Albert Raffaelle Jr.

Albert John Raffaelle Jr. peacefully passed away on February 9th, 2026. He was born on October 30th, 1950 in Birmingham, Michigan. In 1969 he graduated from Seaholm High School. Shortly after, on September 10th, 1970, during the Vietnam War, he proudly joined the US Army and for those few years that he was enlisted, he served as a Dental Specialist.

In 1979 he graduated from Ferris State University and went on to work in Nuclear Medicine at Beaumont hospital until his retirement in the mid 1990’s. The lifelong Detroit sports enthusiast and frequent soccer coach for his children, then moved to warm Nevada, where he owned several restaurants, before moving back to Michigan and settling in Traverse City.

Al, is survived by his wife, Barbara Willing, children Jonathan (Jocelyn) Raffaelle of Emporia, Kansas, David Raffaelle of Sherman Oaks, California, Aaron (Kaitlyn) Willing of Phoenix, Arizona, Emily Kuchmuk (Raffaelle) of Portage, Michigan and his 11 grandchildren, Elora, Remington, Naia and Eden Raffaelle, Hudson, Croix, Ezra, Tobias, and Haven Grace Willing, Maximus and Augustus Kuchmuk.

He is preceded in death by his father Albert J. Raffaelle Sr. (1904-1975), his mother Enid Ariel Jorgenson Raffaelle, his sister Gerda Ann Raffaelle and his son-in-law, Ben Kuchmuk. Al will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Al will be laid to rest with Military Honors on Monday, June 8th, 2026 at Ft. Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI at 11 am.

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