Mert Jessel Passed Away May 6, 2010
Mert Jessel, who joined FUMC on December 13, 1959, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at the age of 92. Visitation will be:
- At Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home
- 4:00-6:00pm
His service will be:
- Here in our Sanctuary
- Monday, May 10, 2010
- 10:00am
Mert was born on February 18, 1918 in Elk Mound, Wisconsin to Lewis Henry and Ida Mae (Whitcher) Jessel. He graduated high school there in 1936 and attended college at Stout University (University of Wisconsin system) where he played football and received a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering. He later received his M.A. degree from the University of Illinois.
He went to work for Civil Service at Chanute Army Air Force Base in Rantoul, Il. in 1940. He joined the military in 1941 and was honorably discharged in 1945. While in the service, he was an instructor teaching airplane engine repair. He spent a year and a half, TDY, in New Haven, Ct. at Yale University teaching ROTC cadets airplane engine repair. After his discharge, he returned to Civil Service at Chanute until its closing when he was transferred to Sheppard Air Force Base, retiring there in 1983.
While in the service, he traveled to colleges, universities, and high schools in North Central U. S. showing how they could incorporate used Air Force material into their cirriculum. In his tenure with Civil Service, he visited Air Force bases in all but one of the lower 48 states.
While at Sheppard, he implemented the “Christmas Exodus” for airmen going home for Christmas. He was also responsible for the planes that are on display at Sheppard. He wrote the plans for the closing of Amarillo AFB and received many commendations for his work at SAFB.
Mr. Jessel was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he was a greeter for 40 years and a member of the Keystone Class. He was also a member of the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls, Phi Delta Kappa, and was a 32nd Degree Mason.
He married Ella Mae Gibson in 1942 and she preceded him in death in 1991. He married Bobbie Leath in May, 1997 and she survives him. Other survivors include his son, David Jessel and wife, Zulai of Webster, Tx.; granddaughter, Heather Jessel Carlquist and husband, Chad of Allen, Tx.; grandsons, Chad Jessel of Webster and Brock Jessel and wife, Rochelle of Rosharon, Tx.; granddaughters, Erica and Lauren of Webster and 5 great grandchildren, Dylan and Ashley Carlquist and Stone, Grant and Aiden Jessel. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, 6 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law.
Pall bearers will be Bill Presson, Jerry Taylor, Rick Orr, Mark Hetherington, Randy Martin, John Ferguson, Al Guinn, and Kevin Key.
In lieu of usual remembrances, memorial donations may be made to FUMC of Wichita Falls Capital Fund or Keystone Class Fund, 909 Tenth St., 76301.
Leave a note below about what Mert meant to you.
Mert was the first person to ever greet my family and me when we started church here in 2001. What a kind man who always had a welcome smile for anyone he came in contact with. What a first impression of our church!
What a wonderful example Mert was for our church. Always there to welcome, greet, or do whatever he good. He and his family serve as great examples of what we should be about.
Kay Yeager