My sincere condolences, The  family is in my prayers. Just got the news. I am so, so sorry. I have so many grateful memories of John. I’m really going to miss John. 

I met John when I was fresh out of school and learning a lot in this life. I always called John for advice, and he was always there to give it to me.

I feel like a lot of my success is credited to John. We talked a lot about fishing, boating, campers, and websites.

He loved his family dearly and was always there for everyone. 


JR and Rakoci Family!  Been searching for words to explain the friendship formed in such a short time between JR and myself and the Rakoci Family!!  We met as we were both settling in our condo’s at 7 Oaks, NMB, SC!!  We bought dirt that turned in to beautiful condo’s!  Walked outside and someone yelled out from above and it was JR!!  We talked and talked as both of us Love to talk!!  Thus as time moved on and we were both down at our Condo’s we would always visit and I could tell him things bothering me and he would tell me what he thought and very soon I would be feeling much better!!  Time moved on, I met the family, he met some of mine and through moving around from our Condo’s to houses (Plural for JR!  Poor Pat, painting,  beautified new house/Condo - Sell, move on) We remained friends!!  Visiting occasionally, talking on phone, etc!  Just a good old friendship between two good old people plus two good old families ‼️   Love and Miss You JR‼️    PS:  Not enough space to tell how his name ended up as JR 😊   RIP  my Dear Friend 🙏

Mother's Day at Brick Landing a few years ago

At Carolina Opry with Natalie and Scottie

My favorite memory of John is when I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis… I was having a bad day, my shoulder was killing me and John came trotting over with a brown paper bag in his hand… I said what’s in the bag?? He proceeded to pull out a bottle of moonshine. He said take a shot you will feel better. I did and almost died!! I said John this stuff tastes like gasoline!! Terrible!! He looked at me with that impish grin and said have another.  It took me a while and I did and said hmmm… not too bad that time around.. so we sat and chatted and had another shot.  About now Patty was ringing his phone trying to keep tabs on this man and he got up and said gotta go… he said btw how’s your arm?  My only response at that point was “ what arm”!  Rest In Peace John… Joe and I will always remember you with a smile ! Keep in touch!! I know you will!!💕❤️

I don’t know where to start. First of all you’ll be missed by friends and family alike. Many good times spent together. After we moved here you were our personal tour guide. You drove me and Deb all over the area showing us places of interest or not. And how can I ever forget our visits of local dives to have  lunch through out the county and a few visits to Horry county. From the outside some of those places were kinda scary, but once inside the food wasn’t  all that bad. And of course we also visited places of normalcy. Fishing trips or just boat rides to be on the water and view the beauty we were blessed to enjoy.
And of course last but not least. Our visits to the local range. At least once or twice a week we would get together and send a few rounds down range to a target of our choice. Early trips to avoid the heat and get our choice of lanes to shoot. 
RIP my friend and thank you for your service to this country in time of need.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Mary and Roscoe during Hurricane Florence evacuation 

One of the only times the boat wasn't at the marina! 

This was our home for nearly two weeks during Hurricane Florence in 2018. Mom, Dad, myself, Mary beagle and Roscoe in the RV in or around Columbia SC. It was quite cozy once we got wi-fi and Mary adjusted a bit to RV life and little stairs. Mary took one couch, Dad took the other. Mary could do no wrong ... let her be happy he would say. We had some great bbq, I ordered a lot of QVC, Mary had very red fur from the red sand, and I'll forever be thankful for the memories. Natalie~

This is the marina where Dad kept his boat in the dry dock. He had friends here and I imagine taught more than a few people, more than a few things. 
My Dad didn't just have hobbies, he had passions. It's not that he loved the boat, but he learned about boating enough to be a Charter Captain, he respected the water and the wildlife and he took care of the things that he worked hard to buy. He took time to study about all of these things but he was also wicked smart. 
He didn't always tell Mom and I were he was going or where he had been, and I remember one day after he had sold the boat, he mentioned that sometimes he goes to the marina and just walks around until his legs hurt too bad. 
And I remember feeling a twinge of deep sadness, I always felt sadness if I thought of my Dad alone, but he was probably talking to people the whole time. I've learned these past two weeks he had a profound impact on many peoples lives that I didn't even know about, even living in the same house with him. He was a giver, a talker, a teacher, a chatterbox, he was silly and also stubborn and also downright determined... simple yet very complex.  One of the good guys. He was a genuine friend , Captain John.
I had these photos taken when I listed one of the boat slips at the marina on New Years Day 2021.  It was a beautiful sunny day with bright blue skies.  Dad was so happy to come to the shoot and introduce me and the photographer to Tim and to show us around, make sure the photos were correct, of the right slips. That was1:00pm, then home to dinner; pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, kielbasa, dumplings. He and I had the same work ethic.  He worked a lot of holidays for the USPS. He would tell me to go to bed when he was still working. He wanted me to have balance. I only ever wanted to make him proud. You can see in your Dad's face when he's proud of you. In his eyes and his smile. 
I Love You Dad. 
I promise to take a day off a week. 

My Dad loved his Grandsons, Scott Patrick and Dominic John (John after my Dad) and some of his favorite things were taking them to Sonic in NMB and to Krispy Kreme. More recently they would go to Beaches or the Dawg House. Really he would take them anywhere just to spend time with them. Probably his most favorite was taking them fishing on his boat and showing them how to cast, catch and clean the fish. 
We had many Christmas Eve's that included shrimp and crab legs from Platt's in Cherry Grove and Dad was always happy to be the one to pick up the order. 

I am so sorry to hear of John's passing. He was a friend and a fellow Postmaster for the US Postal Service.  Even after we both retired, we stayed in touch and on my visits to Myrtle Beach we would get together to share old times.  He was a great guy.  My sincere sympathies to all of John's family and friends. 

We met John & Patti in our first residence after moving to the South in 2003. This was a temporary home (condo) for both of our families until we decided where we would choose to put down our roots  John became our realtor on two moves until we found the right forever house,  and they shared the same story when they settled in Sunset Beach.  More importantly John, Patti and their family all became dear friends. We shared many happy times together,  and we will miss him very much.  A memory to share is  whatever house I was interested in, John would say “I know  I know it has to have trees and a garden tub”    Rest In Peace dear friend and thank you for your service to our country. 

OBITUARY

John William Rakoci

8 May, 1948 – 24 July, 2022

White Funeral and Cremation Service

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