Paul Lesser

It is with pronounced sadness that we annouce the passing of Paul Lesser, cherished husband, father, friend, and colleague. He passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas at the age of 90. He left behind a legacy of intellectual curiosity, business success, and a deep love of family. Born in Mitchell, South Dakota, on March 5, 1935, Paul was raised where winter came with deep snow and frigid temperatures, so he started to dream of life in warmer climates. In high school, he was very proud of his athletic abilities, playing football, basketball, and baseball on his high school teams. Baseball soon became his big love, and he was team captain when they won the State Championship, a story he loved to tell often. He excelled academically, was senior class president, and also the homecoming king. He parlayed his love of the earth and nature into a passion to study geological engineering at the Colorado School of Mines. He graduated in 1957 and was hired by Shell Oil Company in Houston, Texas, which allowed him to realize his dream of moving to a warmer climate. Once in Houston, he began his remarkable 30-year career as an Exploration Geologist. Both at Shell and later as an independent oilman, he successfully found oil across Texas and Louisiana. Within two years of arriving in Houston, he met and married the love of his life, Fredda Zeller Lesser. They remained each other's best friend and soulmate until his death. They were happily married for almost 66 years. He was predeceased by his parents, Edith Shapiro Lesser and Samuel Lesser, as well as his sister Betty Mintz and brothers Laurence Lesser, Joseph S. Lesser, Gerald Lesser, Simon Lesser, and Martin Lesser. He is survived by his loving wife, Fredda Zeller Lesser, his devoted daughters, Rhonda Lesser, Susan Lesser and Karen Lesser Caldwell, his beloved son-in-law Tim Caldwell, sister Lillian Kraus, brother Dr. Mike Lesser, sister-in-law Debbie Lesser and brother-in-law Harvey Charles Zeller, along with numerous nieces, nephews, as well as revered friends and colleagues. A Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM in the Proler Chapel at Beth Israel Memorial Garden, 1101 Antoine Dr., Houston, Texas 77055.

Paul Lesser

March 5, 1935 - July 15, 2025