A proud native-Austinite, Jesse was born at Seton Hospital and graduated from Lanier High School. He was a long-time member of Christ Lutheran Church where he served in many capacities, most importantly on the Board of Elders.
Most recently, Jesse was very excited to have opened the Bennight – Ziehr Allstate Agency with his friend and partner Mark Ziehr. Previously, Jesse worked as a financial advisor for Thrivent Financial for many years and Mass Mutual. Prior to his advisory career, Jesse owned QMASS -- a consulting firm in the chemical and gas piping industry. He gained his experience in that field working for FST Consulting Group, which he helped to build from a tiny, family-run business to a global entity.
Jesse never met a stranger. He loved getting together with ‘the gang’ – a group of treasured friends, his Escondera neighbors, his Bouldin Creek neighbors, his friends from church, and his clients. He was a fitness enthusiast and enjoyed all forms of exercise – cycling, trail running and working out with his buddies at the gym. Jesse was known around the neighborhood as the ‘grill master’ for his love and talent for cooking anything on the grill. He especially loved working in his little garden, feeding ‘his’ birds, and sharing home-grown tomatoes with everyone.
In addition to his wife, Michelle, Jesse is survived by his mother, Jena Carpenter Cazzola and her husband, Chuck, his brother, Brian Bennight, his cherished daughter, Holly Foster and her husband, Derek, and their two children, the grandchildren that lit up Jesse’s life – Lily and Cooper. He is also missed by Bosley and Stella, the two little dachshunds he loved like children. Jesse was preceded in death by his father, Jesse Helton Bennight.
A Celebration of Jesse’s Life will be held at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Christ Lutheran Church, 300 East Monroe Street in Austin, TX with Pastor John Stennfeld officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Lutheran Church.
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