Lake of the Ozarks Parent's Retreat

Jon Ganues

Jon is Manager of TAPS Men's Program, managing all aspects of event planning and coordination. Jon provides a safe space for grieving men to share their stories, connect and support each other, and find ways forward in their unique journeys, building relationships among the surviving community to deepen the foundation of support for male military survivors. Jon serves on the Virginia Military Advisory Council, exploring issues impacting quality of life for service members and their families, relations between the installations and surrounding civilian communities, as well as effects of encroachment. Jon served on the Department of the Air Force 2022 to 2024 Survivor Advocacy Council, which served as a forum for the Air Force and Space Force to champion survivor programs. He is a former TAPS Peer Mentor and was the 2019 Peer Mentor of the Year. Jon is a retired U.S. Army Warrant Officer with 21 years of active-duty service, with experience in logistics and information technology. He is a lifetime member of the U.S. Army Warrant Officers Association, and he is a lifetime honorary member of the Board of Directors for Henrico County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with information and technology from Colorado Technical University. Through his work at TAPS, Jon honors the memory of his son, Airman First Class Jon Wesley Ganues, Jr., U.S. Air Force, who died by suicide on June 2, 2009.

Terri Jones

Terri Jones initially came to TAPS seeking support for herself and her two surviving children after her son, Specialist Jason Cooper, U.S. Army, died by suicide in 2005. Terri’s service at TAPS began through volunteering as a Peer Mentor when she felt ready to support another grieving military survivor. She joined the Survivor Care Team in 2013 and earned her current role in 2019. As the Manager of the Survivor Care Team, she provides compassionate outreach to fellow suicide-loss parents and assists the Survivor Care Team as they support military and veteran survivors of all types of loss. Terri has earned a Death and Grief Studies Certification through the Center of Loss and Life Transition.

Diane Lesko

Diane Lesko is a dedicated member of the Survivor Care Team at TAPS, where she provides outreach and support to surviving mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, and aunts. As a co-facilitator of the Moms Mentoring Moms and Moms Mentoring Moms, New to Grief groups, Diane creates a safe and nurturing environment for mothers to share their stories, honor their children, and navigate their grief journeys together. After a long career as a social worker, Diane’s life took a profound turn following the suicide of her oldest son, PO2 Jonathan Lesko, U.S. Navy, in 2013. This heartbreaking loss led her to seek a new path— one centered around supporting others who have experienced similar tragedies. Diane began her journey with TAPS as a volunteer Peer Mentor, where she found purpose in helping others through the pain of a military loss. In 2017, she transitioned to staff, working on the National Military Survivor Helpline and, in 2020, joined the Survivor Care Team. Diane holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Gerontology and a Master’s in Counseling the Aging from the University of Bridgeport. Her work with TAPS honors the memory of her son Jonathan, and she finds comfort in knowing that his spirit continues to guide her work, providing solace and care to other grieving mothers.

Diane Moir

Diane Moir serves as the Coordinator for TAPS Togethers, a program that unites military survivors through local gatherings designed to provide support, foster peer connections, and inspire healing. She also co-facilitates monthly Online Groups for Surviving Parents and Moms. After the sudden loss of her son, Cpl. Craig Michael Moir, USMC, in August 2016, Diane found strength and support through TAPS. Over time, she became a Peer Mentor, allowing her to walk alongside other parents and support them in their grief journeys. Diane’s experiences with grief and resilience have been shaped by her personal journey through significant challenges, including the loss of her son, surviving cancer, providing direct care for a family member undergoing a liver transplant complicated by addiction and complex medical needs, and witnessing trauma firsthand in an inner-city hospital Emergency Department. These profound experiences have instilled in her a deep appreciation for the healing power of peer connection and storytelling, which she believes help survivors rediscover themselves and restore balance. Inspired by her son Craig’s memory, Diane joined the TAPS staff in 2023. Her role allows her to continue bringing compassion and purpose to her work as she supports other parents and families in finding hope, healing, and renewal.