Actor Christian Oliver and his two daughters, Madita, 12, and Annik, 10, died Jan. 4 in a plane crash in the Caribbean

By Tommy McArdle Tommy McArdle Tommy McArdle is a writer-reporter on the Movies team at PEOPLE. Tommy joined PEOPLE in 2022. People Editorial Guidelines Published on March 6, 2024 11:14AM ESTChristian Oliver and Jessica Klepser on Nov. 12, 2015. Photo:

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Christian Oliver’s ex-wife Jessica Klepser is thanking mourners who attended a memorial service for her two young daughters and late ex-husband, who were each 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed in a plane crash in January.

On Wednesday morning, Klepser shared an image from a church in Frankfurt, Germany — her and Oliver’s home country — to Instagram that displayed a large photo of Oliver and the pair’s daughters Madita and Annik, hanging and surrounded by several bouquets of flowers and candles. Klepser wrote in a caption to the post that the photo was taken on Sunday, which would have marked late actor Oliver’s 52nd 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day.

“TRULY GRATEFUL… for those who came in person – and for those who joined us in SPIRIT!!” Klepser wrote in the caption to her post.  “Above all: Miss Maditz ❤️ Miss Anniki ❤️ and 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day boy @christianoliverofficial 🎂 #keepdancing,” she added.

Oliver, a German actor best known for roles in movies like films The Baby-Sitters Club, The Good German, Speed Racer and Valkyrie, and the former couple’s two daughters were among four people 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed in a plane crash in the Caribbean on Jan. 4. Oliver, died at 51; their daughters Madita and Annik were 12 and 10, respectively. Pilot Robert Sachs, who owned the plane that crashed, was also 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁ed in the incident, which occurred shortly after the aircraft took off, as local authorities in the Caribbean said at the time.

Christian Oliver’s Ex-Wife Says ‘They’re All Watching Me’ After Death of Actor and Their 2 DaughtersChristian Oliver, his wife Jessica Klepser and their two daughters on March 22, 2015.

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Klepser confirmed in a statement she shared Jan. 5 via the company she works for, Wundabar Pilates, that her late ex-husband and daughter’s plane fell into the ocean after it “experienced engine trouble.”

“The deep bond, infectious laughter, and adventurous spirit shared by Madita and Annik will be profoundly missed in their communities,” the January statement read. “Their devoted mother, Jessica Klepser in LA, survives the girls. They also leave behind their grandparents, several aunts, uncles, and cousins in Germany.”

Christian Oliver (right) and his family.

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Klepser has shared a number of posts mourning her family and thanking those who have shown her support in the two months since Oliver’s death. On Jan. 31, she shared a video to Instagram showing her speak to a group of people about her family members’ deaths.

Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2024Christian Oliver on Feb. 19, 2020.

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“Christian and I, we were in such a good place, still being a team. We really had this whole co-parenting thing figured out and this helps me so much knowing we are still doing it,” she said in that video. “He’s with the girls, he’s taking care of them for now, it helps me so much knowing they are not alone. He is with them, they are doing their crazy things.”

“I feel I was supposed to be on that trip. I decided not to go, so I really think there is something here for me that I still have to do, and I promised them that I’m going to make them proud,” she also said at that time.

A GoFundMe created to help Jessica cover the cost of Oliver and her daughters’ funeral arrangements raised $201,615 following the actor’s death in January.