John F. Hoehn III, 73, pastor

John F. Hoehn III, 73, of Elkins Park, a Philadelphia pastor and drug counselor, died of complications from lung cancer Sunday, July 24, at the Sacred Heart Home in North Philadelphia.

Mr. Hoehn became assistant pastor at the Gospel Temple on 17th Street near the Parkway in 1959, and became its pastor in 1970.

He was still pastor in 1975, when the church changed its name to the Living Word Community, and remained in that role until this year, his son Philip said in a phone interview.

But Mr. Hoehn began to share his duties with two other pastors in 1992, when he became a full-time drug and alcohol counselor at New Journeys in Recovery, a substance-abuse service on Fifth Street near Allegheny Avenue, his son said.

Though his church was near several cultural institutions, Mr. Hoehn was no stranger to the unfortunate.

"The downtown church runs a soup kitchen," his son said. "Once a week, it feeds the homeless."

Mr. Hoehn "had a friend who was working as a drug counselor at New Journeys," his son said. Because "it was faith-based, it really interested my dad."

New Journeys named him its employee of the year in 1997, 2000, 2002, and 2010, his son said.

Born in Andalusia, Bucks County, Mr. Hoehn attended Mastbaum High School in Philadelphia and completed his secondary education at Elim Bible Institute in Lima, N.Y., where he then earned a bachelor's degree in Christian theology in 1958.

Mr. Hoehn served from 2000 to 2007 as a board member of the Esperanza Health Center, a neighbor and affiliate of New Journeys.

He was also a chaplain at Fox Chase Cancer Center from 1987 to 2003.

From the early 1980s through the late 1990s, his son said, he was a member of the Fox Chase-Rockledge Ministerium of Churches, a group of several church leaders.

Besides his son Philip, Mr. Hoehn is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marion; another son, David; a daughter, Carol Lovett; three sisters; 12 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A visitation was set for 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at the Living Word Community, 142 N. 17th St., before a 5 p.m. life celebration there.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Esperanza Health Center, 2940 N. Fifth St., Philadelphia 19133.