Remembering John Schlesser
April 2, 1904 - March 27, 2007
His Incredible Story

When John, a World War II veteran and retired gardener, first arrived at Central Union Mission, he was homeless, disoriented and carrying far too much cash for a 96-year old man at a shelter. An alert Mission supervisor recognized the situation, secured John's funds totaling over $3,000 and settled him safely for the night. His records revealed that he had been seriously taken advantage of and probably abused. He's enjoyed safe care at the Mission ever since.

Born in Latvia on April 2, 1904, John served in the US Army briefly during WWII. He was honorably discharged, given citizenship and began living and working in New York State. Nearly six years after his military discharge John married Mary Lahomsky of Jackson Heights, NY in a quiet ceremony. They were married for 36 years until her passing in March of 1985. John and Mary did not have any children.

At some point after the death of his wife , John moved from the state of New York to Ocala, Florida.
John, a wise and prudent investor up to this point, suddenly found himself alone and vulnerable. He feel prey to some untrustworthy individuals who bilked John out of thousands of dollars. At the same time, his health began to deteriorate and John's world seemed on the verge of total collapse.

John again made the decision to move and he boarded a bus for Washington DC. With a couple thousand dollars on his person and a plan to talk to some government officials about the injustices done him, John set out. By the time John had reached DC, he had once again been the victim of theft. His baggage was lost and he had only a small amount of money remaining. Needing adequate shelter, John was brought to the Mission in late April of 2001.

John was a valued member of our Mission family. The men participating in our Spiritual Transformation Program tenderly cared for John on a daily basis. Not only did they have the privilege of building a friendship with John, but they also had the opportunity to care for him as a positive response to the help they are receiving.

Watch a tribute to John aired on NBC below:

It's like Christ's love for us
"The men at the District's Central Union Mission look to John Schlesser for spiritual lessons of giving and redemption -- caring for the 101-year-old World War II veteran like a grandfather...."
By Christina Bellantoni
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
December 24, 2005