Rev. Dr. John S. Adler's Obituary
Fort Myers resident Rev. Dr. John S. Adler, Vietman Veteran, lawyer. Episcopal priest and "church planter, " mentor, and devoted family man, the Rev. Dr. John Stuart Adler led a richly fulfilling life. His leadership, caring nature, and genuine interest in others made an impression on all he met. Father Adler was called home on September 10, 2023 in Fort Myers, FL. He was 81.
A Funeral Service will be celebrated 2:00 PM, Sunday, October 15, 2023 at Iona Hope Episcopal Church in Fort Myers, FL. The service will be live streamed on the church website, www.ionahope.org.
Father Adler was born July 31, 1942, the son of Gordon and Catherine (McBratney) Adler of Harveey, IL. He attended Thornton Township High School in Harvey and graduated from Shattuck St. Mary's School, an Episcopal boarding school in Faribault, MN. He then joined the U.S. Army, where his leadership skills were quickly noticed. After basic training, he was recommended for officer candidate school.
Early in his Military training, Rev. Adler was intriduced to Wanda Billings who had also attended Thornton. The couple married later that year and relocated to Fort Benning, GA. Father Adler was deployed to Vietnam in 1964, the same year the couple's daughter, Audrey Christine, was born. He subsequently returned to the Army headquarters in Fort Mead, MD. The couple's son, John Stuart Jr., was born in 1966. Father Adler left the Army in 1969 with the rank of Captain and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois, in Champaign, followed by a law degree fromo Illinois Institute of Technology-Kent College of Law in Chicago.
The Adler family moved to Oak Park where they lived for nearly 20 years and were active members of Grace Episcopal Church. Father Adler led the church's high school youth group, served as a deacon and on the church's governing board.
In the mid-1980's, after a successful 13 year law career, Father Adler felt called to the priesthood. He left the law practice and enrolled in Seabury Western Seminary, in Evanston, IL. He graduated from seminary in May of 1989 at the age of 47 and accepted a position as an assocaite priest at St. Boniface Episcopal Church on Siesta Key, FL.
In the mid-1990s, when a part of northern Naples, FL, was undergoing a residential building boom, Father Adler accepted a position as the priest of a new Episcopal church being formed to serve that region. "John was considered a church planter," says Mrs. Adler. That congregation today is a thriving St. Monica's Episcopal Church.
Some years later, the opportunity to start a new Episcopal mission in south Fort Myers presented itself and Father Adler accepted the challenge. That congregation became Iona Hope Episcopal Church, in Fort Myers. "John truly loved what he did and wanted to be of help in any way he could for the people he met," says Mrs. Adler. "His whole world projected outward."
In addition to his wife, Father Adler leaves a daughter, Christine of Sarasota, son, John (Holly), also of Sarasota, twin grandsons, Cameron Adler, of Sarasota, and Ryan (Allison) Adler, of Palm Bay, FL. He was predeceased by his siter, Karen Anderson, and brother, Dale Adler.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties, Inc., 12751 New Brittany Blvd., Suite 100, Fort Myers, FL; the Shattuck St. Mary's School, 1000 Shumway Avenue, Fairbault, MN 55021: or a charity of your choice.
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