John Leo Rafferty Jr., age 92, of St. Clair Shores, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2024. John was born on October 24, 1931 to John and Christina in Windsor, Ontario. While his parents were visiting family in Canada, John decided to enter this world early, thus making him a Canadian citizen. He then became a U.S. citizen in 1943. John graduated from St. Martin Catholic HIgh School, in Detroit in 1949. John entered the Marine Corps in 1952 and served two years, during the Korean War. When he returned home from service, he met the love of his life, Audrey Kathleen Moylan, and they were married on April 14th, 1956. Together they raised five sons and one daughter. John spent forty years working for Chrysler before retiring in 1997. Family was always the most important thing to John. He enjoyed coaching his children and grandchildren in baseball and hockey. John received a special award from the St. Clair Shores Hockey Association for coaching kids for 50 years. Throughout his coaching time, he made a positive impact on all those he coached. John was an active member in the Elks, the Eagles, and the Moose. He rarely missed his kids or grandkids hockey games, baseball games, band concerts, and dance recitals. John and Audrey enjoyed traveling including many family trips to northern Michigan, Ireland, Hawaii, and later to Savannah to visit their daughter and son-in-law. John loved his children and grandchildren very much, often vacationing with them whenever he could. He was a friend and a mentor to many.
John is survived by his cherished children Kevin (Cheryl) Rafferty, John (Jane) Rafferty, Tim (Angie) Rafferty, Mike (Jen) Rafferty, Keith Rafferty, Kathleen (Michael) Schratz, 14 beloved grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. John is also survived by his dear brothers and sisters Charlene (Jeff) Farkas, and Dennis (Kathy) Rafferty, Brian (Sandy) Rafferty, Margaret (Ray) Maes, along with sister-in-laws, Randi Rafferty, Shirley (Stu) Schwab and many cherished nieces and nephews.
John joins in heaven his beloved wife Audrey, his parents John and Christina, parents-in-law Herbert and Evelyn Moylan, his brothers Jim and David, his sister, Christine, and sister in law, Jackie, along with his great grandson Aiden Krueger. John will forever be remembered by all who loved him and the many lives he touched.
Visitation will take place Sunday July 21, 2024 beginning at 2:00 pm, until the time of the service at 7:00 pm at Kaul Funeral Home 28433 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores Michigan, 48081.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s memory can be made to Blessed Solanus Casey (https://www.solanuscasey.org) and to the Krueger Hat Trick Foundation (www.thekht.org) in loving memory of his beloved great-grandson.
Interment will take place at Resurrection Cemetery at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kaul-fh.com for the Rafferty family.
