Thomas William Rafferty

Thomas William Rafferty, age 84, of Savanna, IL, passed away on July 15, 2024, at Central DuPage Hospital with family by his side. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, in Hanover, IL, on Friday, July 19, at 10 a.m. Visitation will take place Thursday, July 18, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Law Jones Funeral Home, Hanover, IL, as well as one hour before Friday’s service, at the church. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, in Hanover. Memorials may be made to an organization of your choice.

Tom is survived by his four sons Matt (Julie) Rafferty, Mark (Peggy) Rafferty, Brad (Emily) Rafferty, Joel (Haley) Rafferty, ten grandchildren, one great grandchild, and the mother of his four sons, Maryquinn Rafferty Wrightfield. Tom is also survived by his life partner of many years Kathy Teberg, her two daughters Corey (Shean) Albrecht and Carrie (Dave) Geary, and four grandchildren.

Tom was born June 22, 1940 in Bemidji, MN, the son of Leonard and Lulubelle (Jerpe) Rafferty. After spending his early childhood in Minnesota, his family moved to Clinton, IA where he would graduate from Clinton High School with the class of 1958. In 1961, Tom graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Arts from Clinton Community College.

Tom quickly moved to the Chicago area where he drove a CTA bus down Lake Street for a few years. In 1965, Tom married Maryquinn Coulter and they soon returned towards the Mississippi River and Savanna. He began a career with Eaton Corp spending six years in Savanna before being transferred to Wheaton, IL. He would spend the next three decades in the Western Suburbs, raising their family.

In 1989, Tom opened Skolnik’s Bagel Bakery in Danada Square Wheaton, operating it for a decade. From there he would spend his remaining working years at Sunrise Assisted Living of Glen Ellyn until retiring back to Savanna with Kathy Teberg. They were by each other’s side for their twilight years.

Tom was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Hanover, regularly volunteering and serving on the church council. He was a 32nd degree Mason with the Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, Valley of Clinton, Orient of Iowa, and was a 50+ year member of the Grand Lodge of Iowa A.F. and A.M., Lyons Lodge 93. In his youth, Tom enjoyed hunting alongside friends in Iowa. Later he was part of the Lawn Mower Brigade, performing in the parades of Wheaton. He always enjoyed wood working having built many toys for his grandchildren with Kathy. Tom spent weekends updating his homes and nothing brought him more pride than home renovations projects alongside his sons. The day always finished relaxing in the hot tub in the evening with a cold margarita and a good conversation!