Rodney L. Bentz Sr. passed away December 6, 2020 in Pontiac, Michigan at 78 years old. Rodney was born to Roland Robert and Violet Helen (Chrisple) Bentz on July 19, 1942, in Ludington, Michigan. The second son of a farmer and police deputy, Rod worked on his family farm, and also for Bentz Motor Company, a garage in town, where he learned his love of cars. Rod graduated Ludington High School in 1960, and married his high school sweetheart, Louella Taylor in 1964. Following his big brother Reshard's footsteps, Rod also proudly served in the Army National Guard. Shortly after their marriage, Rod and Lou left Ludington and moved to Flint, MI, where his Uncle Raymond Grassa helped him start his career at General Motors in Assembly, went through the Apprenticeship Program became a Tool and Die Maker. Rod moved his young family to a cottage on Runyan Lake in Fenton, which he single-handedly renovated into a beautiful 4-season home where they raised their three children. Rod and Lou bought and renovated several homes together, loved antiquing and always had enough room to work on fully restoring and painting Corvettes and other muscle cars. Rod continued working at General Motors throughout his entire career, but shifted to the Advanced Engineering Staff at the Tech Center in Warren in the mid 1980's, where he worked as a Senior Manufacturing and Experimental Engineer until 1999 when he retired with 34 years of service. In 1992, Rod married Bonnie (Course) of Pontiac. True soulmates, Rod and Bonnie always made time to enjoy the very best in life; their love of the outdoors, gardens, music, books, cars and antiques. They loved to travel in their motorhome with friends and family, heading to Ludington, Florida and Georgia, and one time out west to see the Mojave Desert. They spent many a Christmas bringing all their children and grandchildren together in Ludington and at Waldenwoods in Hartland. They also loved spending time at their cottage in Ludington, renovating and planting, visiting with new and old neighbors, and making a sweet getaway they shared with so many. You'd also find Rod and Bonnie with friends and family on their back deck in the evenings, with music and laughter filling the air into the small hours. You'd often find Rod toiling away in his garage or backyard, trying to finish his neverending Honey-Do list they both added to non-stop. To that point, at 78, he was getting ready to renovate their kitchen, and was in the process of restoring a Corvette and a Chevy pickup truck. Rod loved dreaming up and drafting plans on grid paper or napkins for projects to make life more functional, interesting and pretty darn neat. From the Murphy bed he installed in their spare bedroom (at age 75) to adding a front porch and awning on the front of a friend's house, to making a big sliding drawer above their refrigerator that looked like a two-door cabinet, to blowing out a back wall in their kitchen to let that larger refrigerator fit, to hand-building a wooden corner step with vents in it to help his young grandson to reach the bathroom sink... Rod was clever, thoughtful, and had amazing vision which showed through in love with every cut, glue and installation. He had a strong sense of pride in the craftsmanship and work he put forth throughout his entire life, which was evident in the twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes when he showed anyone his work. Rod was a true gentleman in life and in death. After a two week struggle with Covid, Rod's beautiful wife Bonnie passed on Monday, December 1st. After less than a week without her, Rod passed away on Sunday evening, December 6th. Rod was also preceded in death by his Dad, Mom, brother Reshard, step-daughter Kathy and great grandson Derek.Rod is survived by his children Robin McRath, Rod Bentz Jr., Katie and Steve Weingartz and his grandchildren, Sam, Madelyn, Cameron and Kelly, Karsen and Justin, Patrick, and Rex, as well as his family with Bonnie; stepchildren Lori and Ashley, and Trent, and grandchildren PJ, Taylor Rae, Hunter, Aliea, Zach and two great-grandchildren, Eddie and Evan. As both Rod's and Bonnie's arms extended out to so many, they are also survived by many brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and life-long friends who loved them and they loved just as much. Rod had an incredible sense of humor, and was quite the comedian, inspiring us all to laugh and see things through a lens of humor. "You know, Rod..." Bonnie would sternly say, getting ready to give him the business... Rod would quickly quip "Yes I know Rod, He's a pretty nice guy". The family hopes to hold a Memorial service for both Rod and Bonnie in the summer of 2021 to celebrate the life they lived and honor their memory. Details to come.From his 40's, Rod honorably battled Rheumatoid Arthritis and underwent many surgeries as a result of, and treatments to overcome the disease. Please consider donating to the Arthritis Foundation to help find a cure. https://www.arthritis.org/donate