Jesse is survived by his wife, Sarah Thomas Pagels; his daughter, Hannah Pagels; his parents, Dr. George A. Pagels and Suzanne F. Pagels; and his two sisters, Rebecca Pagels (Oscar Ybarra and Max Pagels Ybarra) and Rev. Dr. Debbie Pagels.
Jesse was born in Cleveland on May 24, 1976. He spent his formative years in Marshfield, Wisc. While in high school, he fell in love with music - playing both piano and classical trumpet - and running under the leadership of Coach Dan Akin. He would go on to run 10 marathons, and countless shorter races until his health prevented him from racing.
Jesse pursued a career in classical music, earning a bachelor’s degree in Trumpet Performance from Northwestern University and a graduate degree from Wichita State University. He performed with various ensembles, including the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and Kalamazoo Symphony before becoming a freelance musician.
Jesse met his wife Sarah through their respective college roommates. They married in 2006. Their family was complete with the birth of their daughter Hannah. Jesse was never prouder of any role he played than “Dad,” becoming Hannah’s trusted music and sports advisor, chauffeur, and chef. He was a devoted fan of the Northwestern Wildcats and the Green Bay Packers.
Jesse was the model of grace and patience. Over 20 years, Jesse battled several serious health challenges, including leukemia, a stem cell transplant, and a double lung transplant. He received treatment for a secondary cancer the last three years. These conditions deprived him of two things he loved – running and playing the trumpet – but Jesse found new ways to support these passions.
One such way was the Cream City 5K Inc., which Jesse founded following his lung transplant to give back to the organ donation community. Since 2016, it has raised more than $150,000.
Jesse died as he lived – on his own terms, and without complaint. The day before his death, Jesse sat on the sidelines at the Cream City 5K watching his passion project come to life one last time. The 10th Anniversary Cream City 5K will be held on April 26, 2025, in Jesse’s honor.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 15 at 11 a.m. at UW Milwaukee’s Zelazo Center, 2419 E. Kenwood Blvd., and a live-stream link will be provided by emailing requests to jessepmemorial@gmail.com. Public visitation will start at 10 a.m., with a reception following. Attendees are encouraged to wear sneakers, honoring Jesse’s love for running and the Cream City 5K.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to creamcity5k.org or to the
the Jesse Pagels Memorial Fund for the WSU Music Department. Donations can be made online here: https://rb.gy/fiwklo. Checks may be mailed to WSU Foundation at 1845 Fairmount St., Campus Box 2, Wichita, KS 67260-0002. Include “Jesse Pagels Memorial” in the memo line.
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