John Thomas McKiernan

John T. McKiernan, 93, passed away peacefuly in his sleep on January 22, 2026.

John was born in Richmond Township on August 11, 1932, to the late John and Lucy McKiernan.

He attended St. Augustine School, where he played center on the 1949 championship football team. After two years studying engineering at the University of Detroit, he enlisted and served as a Navy Airman (weather observer). He was stationed on Oahu and Midway Islands, and in Alameda, California, where he enjoyed evenings at the Blackhawk, listening to his favorite jazz greats. After his honorable discharge, in 1956, John returned to the University of Detroit, where he earned a bachelors degree in accounting, as well as an MBA. He married his beloved wife, Barbara, in 1957, in St. Augustine Church, and, after a few years, they returned to Richmond to raise their family.

John had a distinguished career in management at General Motors from 1962 until he retired in 1992. He also devoted himself to civic service, on the Richmond City Council and as Mayor of Richmond, to service of his church, on the Parish Council at St. Augustine, and to professional service on the Farmers Elevator Board. After retirement, he pursued a second career as an excellent woodworker, creating wonderful furniture for friends and loved ones. He became an historian of both early American furniture-making and tool development and manufacturing, particularly in Southeastern Michigan. He and Barbara enjoyed traveling, especially to tool conventions, where he amassed large collections of both antique planes and slide rules. John and Barbara were devoted to each other until she preceded him in death in 2024.

John is survived by his loving children, Michael, Patrick, Thomas, and Anne McKiernan and Barbara Caporale; daughter-in-law, Sue McKiernan; son-in-law, Tony Caporale; grandchildren, Courtney (Kris) Coronado, Christina (Vinny) Pelino, Margaret, Christopher, and John Caporale, and Braeden McKiernan; and great-grandchildren, Kevin, Aidan, and Collin Coronado. He is also survived by his sisters, Winifred Doane and Virginia Foley; brother, Don (Patricia) McKiernan; sisters-in-law, Nancy McKiernan and Mary (John) Riedl; and brothers-in-law, George Gonczar and Gary (Debbie) Priestap.

He is preceded in death by sisters, Marie Gonczar and Eileen (Ray) Foley; brothers, James (Patricia) and Ron McKiernan; and brothers-in-law, E. William Priestap and Robert Foley.

The family honors the memory of John and invites you to visit and share memories from 3:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at Kaatz Funeral Directors, Richmond 71235 Memphis Ridge Rd., Richmond, MI 48062. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on February 5th at 10:30 am, with instate at 10:00 am, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 68035 Main St, Richmond, MI 48062.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Augustine Catholic School or Capuchin Soup Kitchen (Detroit).

For more information and tribute wall visit: kaatzfunerals.com