Gerald A. Shaffran of Traverse City, Michigan, age 84, passed away peacefully at home after a short illness on Friday, October 20, 2023. He was born to Isadore and Beatrice (McNeil) on February 9, 1939, in Traverse City, MI. He was also raised by his devoted and loving stepfather, Lyle Pahl.

Gerald (Jerry) was born the youngest of four children and grew up in Traverse before entering the U.S. Navy in 1958, where he spent 20 years as a Navy Corpsman. He married the love of his life Bobbie (Justice) Shaffran in Dearborn, MI, on November 3, 1962. He retired from the Navy in 1978 and he and his family returned to Traverse City that same year.

Jerry loved to work on his house (he had an endless honey-do-list) and travel with his wife Bobbie. After his second retirement from Sara Lee, he and Bobbie spent many weeks in Hawaii avoiding the heavy winters in Northern Michigan. When at home, he thoroughly enjoyed sitting on his deck soaking up the summer sun with Bobbie and his beloved cat, Dolly! After Bobbie's passing in 2019, he enjoyed "Happy Hour" drinking a glass (or two) of wine while sitting in his front yard.

Jerry leaves behind his two daughters, Lynn Perkins of Hillsborough, NC and Lori Stoeckel of Chandler, AZ. He also leaves behind his two son-in-laws, Brian Perkins and Bob Stoeckel, his brother-in-law Billy Justice, and six grandchildren: Morgan, Nicholas, Lyndsey, and Nathan Stoeckel and Elizabeth and Katie Perkins, in addition to extended family.

The family would like to thank Munson Hospice (Nacole and Nancy) for their extraordinary care and neighbors Cherie, Tom and Kim, and Danny for the care they showed Jerry during his illness.

The funeral for Jerry will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 308 N. Cedar St, Traverse City, MI. There will be a one-hour visitation before the mass. There will also be a lunch proceeding the mass and a military ceremony at Oakwood Cemetery where he will be interred next to Bobbie.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to offer expressions of sympathy are encouraged to make a memorial contribution to the Cherryland Humane Society, 1750 Ahlberg Road, Traverse City, MI 49696 or online at : https://cherrylandhumane.org/donate/