With great sorrow, the Mudhar family announces the passing of our dedicated, generous, and fun-loving husband, father, grandpa, brother, and friend, Jess Mudhar, aka "Happy". Jess was born on October 6, 1962 to his parents Joginder Singh Mudhar and Surjit Kaur Mudhar in Kalka, India. He moved from India to the United States in 1981, settling in Arleta, California. He journeyed to the US with his father when he was 19 years old and then slowly welcomed more members of his family in the years that followed. He developed his love of driving in California, especially his Mustangs with his vanity plate, 4UHAPPY.
Jess met the love of his life, Imelda Contreras, in 1986 when he made a potluck delivery to his mother's work. They were having a surprise party for her boss, Imelda. Little did Jess know, Imelda is who answered the door. The biggest surprise of all came shortly after when Jess asked Imelda out on a date. The two were married on June 20,1987 in Santa Barbara, California.
In 1993, the Mudhar family moved to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where they consider home. His years in Pauls Valley were filled with special memories with his family. Their home held endless family gatherings, welcomed new grandkids, and spent many hours watching Family Feud and ESPN cheering on his favorite teams. He attended Light of the World PCG for 24 years and served as the youth leader with his wife for 18 years. Jess worked in the sales industry as an Account Manager for most of his working career. He has always been a skilled salesman and shared his talents with Wonder Bread/Hostess, Mrs. Baird's Bakeries, and Keurig/Dr. Pepper/Snapple Group. His work allowed him to care for people in a special way, as he had a gift for cheering someone up or looking out for someone down on their luck.
In present years you could find Jess at breakfast with his wife, at OU events with his Sooners or high school games with his grandkids. He loved his church family at Antioch Community Church in Norman, OK. His favorite days started with a big breakfast with his family and ended with a cup of chai at night.
Jess passed away on March 3, 2023 after over a year long, courageous fight with brain cancer (glioblastoma). Jess is survived and missed by his adoring wife of 35 years, Imelda Mudhar; and his loving children, Noemi and Jeff Gutierrez, Jorge and Luz Medina, Jess and Malorie Mudhar, and his "baby girl" Jazmine Mudhar. His memory lives on with his grandchildren, Joshua Gutierrez, Josiah Medina, Isabella Gutierrez, Jacob Medina, and Jess "Archie" Mudhar who will be born in May 2023. His memory will be cherished by his brother, Bhupinder Mudhar, and sisters, Amarjit Kalsi and Kamal Sambi and husband Jatinder Sambi and many nieces, nephews, and a host of other loved relatives. Jess is preceded in death by his father, Joginder Singh Mudhar, his mother, Surjit Kaur Mudhar, and his grandson, Julian Medina.
The Mudhar family will celebrate Jess' life with the viewing on Thursday, March 9 from 9am-7pm at Wooster Funeral Home and the funeral on Friday, March 10 at 2:00pm at Trinity Baptist Church. The burial will follow at Mount Olivet in Pauls Valley, OK.