CALEDONIA — Rev. John “Jack” Shirley knew his time was short. The cancer that had started as a massive tumor in his leg spread quickly in the four months after he first learned of the diagnosis.

Knowing his time was short, Father Jack, as he was known at St. Rita’s Parish, planned his funeral service, according to a friend. Shirley, who served as a pastor at St. Rita’s for 12 years, died Friday after his short battle with cancer. He was 76.

Shirley was born in Chicago, but traveled widely as an Augustinian priest, said Rev. Joseph Stobba, pastor at St. Rita’s, where Shirley served as his associate.

During more than 40 years in the priesthood, Shirley developed a unique preaching style, Stobba said, shaped in part by many years as a member of his order’s mission band. As a member of the band — a group of itinerant priests — Shirley traveled around the country preaching in different churches, Stobba said.

While at St. Rita’s, Shirley developed a good relationship with what he called “the breakfast club.”

Almost every day of the week, people would go to Mass at the church, then go out for breakfast at local restaurants. Shirley would join them, Stobba said.

“He just saw that as something that was helpful to the people, helpful to him,” Stobba said.

Shirley also was proud to be a recovering alcoholic and devoted many years to ministering to other alcoholics, Stobba said. He faithfully attended weekly Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and used his own experience to help others, Stobba said.

“He was very active in that ministry, working with people who were trying to remain sober. He had a special gift for guiding people who were struggling with alcoholism,” Stobba said.

Shirley had been living at the Aurora Zilber Family Hospice in Milwaukee. He knew his time was short, said Stobba, who had last visited him about two weeks ago.

“He was very open about it,” Stobba said. “I blessed him. I brought Communion to him. He was OK with it.”