John Fredrick Lesko

He was a firecracker baby. He attended St. Simon & Jude Grade School and Gillespie Community High School, graduating in 1957. On completion of High School, he entered the US Navy. He graduated on a Friday and was on a bus on Monday. He attended Boot Camp Class, A, B, and C schools at Great Lakes Naval Training center. He then served aboard the USS E.A. Greene DDR 711 and the USS Everglades AD24 as ship Force Fire Control. Upon his discharge he was employed by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. He started out in the wire crib, assembling wire harnesses for the F4 Phantom. He was promoted to Assistant Foreman working on programs such as Skylab, Harpoon Missile (California) and AIS ejector seats for the F15 Fighter. Through his career with McDonnell Douglas, he was promoted to Full Foreman where he oversaw manufacturing and testing of the Aft propulsion system for the Space Shuttle at White Sands, New Mexico. His early career with McDonnell working in the space program on Skylab brought him to Florida’s Space coast. John fondly remembered childhood trips to Florida, trips with his Grandma and Grandpa Beckmann when he was 10 years old, and trips down to Disney with the wife and kids. One such trip included the family and two sister in-laws, all six piled into a Ford Pinto. Those were the days, a kid for every lap and a cooler between your knees, that was travelling in those days.

When opportunities to return to Florida arose in 1984, he did just that. He returned as head of the ordinance assembly area, (building 444) for the Tomahawk and Joint Cruise missile projects. His associates knew he would tell it like he saw it. If John promised something, he made it happen. He was the “Bull in a China shop”, from one end of the floor to the other. If there was a problem, he was there. As a leader he attracted those that felt and acted the same. The pride his guys had in producing those missiles remained on the floor as reports of how those missiles performed overseas came back in. He will be missed. John Retired in 1995 after 35 years of service and started the next chapter in his career.

John joined the Elks in 1989 serving as Leading Knight, Chaplain and Esquire before becoming Exalted Ruler of Merritt Island Lodge #2650 in 1996. That year, with his team of officers, they became the “First All American” lodge in the state of Florida. John served as District Deputy in 2003 and East Central District DDGER. John served as the Ladies’ State Chairmen for Florida’s Ladies of Elks. John also served as District Director (2008-2011) for the Florida Elks Children’s Therapy Services. John’s Elk accomplishments are too numerous to completely list, but he always enjoyed making sure the veterans had their Turkey dinner, complete with oyster dressing. He loved his lodge, helping at everything from the monthly breakfasts, to being in the kitchen preparing the sauce for the PER spaghetti dinner to helping with Ladies’ Chicken dinner. Dedicated to charity and service to the community, you could tell John was trustworthy. After selling Harley-Davidson motorcycle raffle ticket (Children’s Hospital, Umatilla) for two years, travelling all over Florida, his son John didn’t win. John especially enjoyed his work helping with the Country Christmas parties for special needs kids and adults at Kiwanis Island. His tireless efforts and commitment to charity will be missed. He truly loved ELK-ing It!

John was a proud 60-year member and 4th degree Knight of Columbus. He got his start serving as altar boy and using his bike to deliver food to the nuns for lunch. His alter boy career ended prematurely when he had to tell Rev. George E. Hobbs that he couldn’t continue because the US Navy was waiting.

John met his wife Marcella (Seipp) in his hometown on Baker street where they lived in Gillespie. Marcella caught John’s eye at Easter Sunday mass, and he asked the pretty girl out on the town. Marrying the “girl next door,” John credited his Navy uniform. His life’s journey and the Navy would take him around the world. His Navy memories included his role as a petty officer and being often assigned to pick up the ship’s payroll in port. He always lamented not being allowed to take a Tommy gun along as his choice of security for the detail. John was a sportsman and collector and loved history.

Always up for travels, he was the gypsy of his family. He saw the sites and had countless adventures as he took the family to the next opportunity. Driving across the country the Lesko’s saw the sites. Sure, the family had all the usual arguments for a cramped car, two boys that had to sit on their hands for more than a few miles. Dad could always end the argument about where the middle of the back seat was.

Perhaps some of those early trips to Florida was fitting foreshadowing for making Florida his final, and longest home.

He was the proud father of three. Two sons, John David, and William Martin (both living in St. Louis) and one daughter Julie (preceded him in death 1963). John was the proud grandfather of Sadie and Angela. Step-grandfather to Sean and Shannon (preceded in death 2017). Great-grandfather to Liam, Jack, Lily, and Bailey.