Obituary of William James Jesseman Jr.

Longtime Suntree resident William (“Bill”) James Jesseman, Jr., 90, died peacefully at Vitas Inpatient Hospice Center in Rockledge on the evening of Friday, May 21st, 2021, surrounded by family and close friends. A graveside service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 12th at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge.

Bill is survived by his children, daughter Sharon DiCerbo of New Castle, PA, son Timothy Jesseman and wife Marcy of Ellwood, PA, daughter Kelly Jesseman-Gavrile of Ellwood, PA, daughter Kimberly Kundrotas and husband Daniel of Melbourne, FL, son Shawn Jesseman of Titusville, FL, 9 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren in Pennsylvania, and one grandchild in Titusville, FL. His family also included sons James L. Jesseman and William G. Jesseman of Duval County, FL, daughter Mary Elizabeth Rouke of Duval County, FL, and their respective children and grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his mother Ada Brown Jesseman, father William J. Jesseman, Sr., sons David Jesseman and Barry Jesseman, sons-in-law Joseph DiCerbo and John Gavrile, and great grandson Adrian David Holmes.

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1931, Bill was a longtime resident of New Castle, PA before moving to the Melbourne, FL area in 1990. A lifelong entrepreneur, Bill’s early career spanned encyclopedia sales, real estate investment, and a successful sales position with Craftmatic Adjustable Beds, but his proudest career achievement was the American Adjustable Bed Company, which he founded in 1979 and ran for more than a decade. Bill’s later ventures centered on Florida residential and commercial real estate with occasional forays into the restaurant business in both Florida and Pennsylvania. Bill’s love of sales defined him, and he worked until well into his 89th year as Realtor with Brevard County Realty.

Throughout his life, Bill enjoyed trips to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, and Traverse City, Michigan. Active and youthful until just a few months before his death, he enjoyed walking the Viera wetlands and visiting Wickham Park. In addition to his love of the outdoors, Bill was a coin collector, a recreational pilot and, above all, a devoted animal lover.

Bill’s love of animals was well-known to friends, family, and acquaintances. He never encountered an animal, wild or domesticated, that he did not want to help in whatever way he could. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Humane Society of South Brevard, the Space Coast Feline Network, or the pet- or wildlife-related charity of your choice.

A loving father and steadfast friend, Bill will be remembered for his generous nature, his resourceful and inventive mind, and his amiable demeanor. He will be greatly missed.

A graveside service and celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at Florida Memorial Gardens in Rockledge.