John Steven Lesniak passed away peacefully on Aug. 26, 2026, at the Burnett Medical Continuing Care Center.
He was born May 14, 1949, in St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of the late John A. and Felicia Franckiewicz Lesniak. John attended St. Adalbert primary school and St. Bernard’s High School.
John very proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1971. Initially signing up for a two-year enlistment, John had the opportunity to add another year and receive Special Forces training. He earned the Green Beret. John was a combat medic with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam from May 1969 to May 1970. He fulfilled his three-year enlistment after Vietnam at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with the 82nd Airborne. From June 1972 to July 1974, John served in the Army Reserve in North Carolina with the 11th SFG Airborne.
AATW!! John always said that he would serve all over again if he could. He was most proud of his Combat Medical Badge and jump wings.
Owatonna Manufacturing Company brought John and Mary to Owatonna, Minnesota, in July 1979. Then, John hired on at OTC Sealed Power and years later transferred to its sister company, Truth Hardware. He worked in the area of Purchasing and Materials Management.
John enjoyed hunting and walking through the woods on the family acreage that he had named “Tick City,” for the obvious reason.
John married Mary Louise Lorek on July 9, 1976, in Wilmington, North Carolina. He liked telling people that “I married a Southern Girl, I’m not afraid of anything.” After raising their family in Owatonna, they spent their retirement years in Siren, Wisconsin.
John is survived by Mary, his devoted and loving wife of 50 years; his dear children, Nicholas (wife Jill Endres) of Tucson, Arizona; Kara (husband Andrew) Henderson of Jordan, Minnesota; Rita Lesniak of Owatonna; and Philip (wife Colby) of Oronoco, Minnesota; and their dear grandchildren, Tyler Lesniak and Ryan Lesniak of Tucson, Arizona; and Reid Henderson, Amelia Henderson and Isabelle Henderson of Jordan, Minnesota.
Also surviving are John’s brother, Jim (wife Joyce) Lesniak of Old Fort, Tennessee; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Andrew (wife Joyce) Lorek, Caroline (husband Jim) Bordeaux, Ann Lorek, and Evelyn Lorek, all of Castle Hayne, North Carolina; many nieces, nephews, and cousins, and many special friends.
Besides his parents, John was predeceased by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, John A. and Louise Trzepacz Lorek; infant granddaughter, Emily Ann Lesniak; brothers-in-law, John A. Lorek, Jr and Edwin S. Lorek. And, never forgotten are his many military brothers and sisters lost during the Vietnam War and later life.
The family sends heartfelt thanks for the loving care and support given to John during his short stay at the BMCCC.
A private family graveside service will be held at the Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, Wisconsin, at a later date.
Please consider making a donation in memory and honor of John to T2T.org, and DAV.org.
Blessed be John’s memory.
