William (Bill) David Motzny, passed away on September 27, 2023, seven days after his 93rd birthday. He was born on September 20, 1930 in Chicago during the Great Depression to William A. and Barbara V. Motzny. Bill's childhood included family gatherings (and getting together with his family remained important to him for the rest of his life), working after-school jobs to help his family and to save money for college. His strong work ethic was probably born during this period and included "cleverly" getting jobs before he was the age that was required for those jobs. One such position was as an usher at a theater in Chicago where Frank Sinatra was performing, and Bill was able to get his autograph!

After graduating from Chicago's Taft High School in 1948, Bill attended Michigan Technological University (called Michigan College of Mining and Technology at the time) where he was in the Air Force ROTC and on the boxing team (where he only lost one match). During college, he married his high school sweetheart, Elaine Langer, whom he met on a Halloween night. She was hitchhiking with a friend, and Bill and his friend picked them up. The rest, as they say, was history, as they were married for 70 years at the time of her death.

After graduating from college in 1952 with a degree in mechanical engineering, he served actively in the Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California until 1954. He then served in the Air Force Reserve until 1966 and attained the rank of captain. After leaving Edwards, Bill worked for Pontiac Motor Division in Michigan where he was an engineering manager. After his retirement from General Motors in 1986, he formed his own engineering management company, Cogent. And again, to illustrate Bill's strong work ethic, during the time he was working full time, he also went to Detroit College of Law as a full-time student and earned a Juris Doctor Degree in 1978; coached all of his sons' Little League baseball teams; served as president of his neighborhood's Landowner's Association; and was an active member of the Elks. However, the time spent with his family was what was most important to him.

Bill is survived by his five children: Linda (Mike) Prewitt, David (Karen) Motzny, Stephen (Kimberly) Motzny, Allan (Kelley) Motzny, and Robert (Theresa) Motzny; his 15 grandchildren; his nine great-grandchildren; and his brother Kenneth (Doris) Motzny. Bill was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife, Elaine Motzny; and his grandson, Matthew Motzny. He will be missed, but remembered, by all who knew him.

A special thank you to the people at Waterford Oaks Senior Care and the Medical Team Hospice out of Flint for their care and support of Bill and his family during his final months.

There will be a visitation at Coats Funeral Home, 8909 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, MI, on Tuesday, Oct. 3, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by a "Celebration of Life" service at 12:30 p.m.. There will be a short service at 2 p.m. on the same day at Great Lakes National Cemetery, 4200 Belford Rd., Holly, MI.

Those desiring to do so, may make a donation in Bill's name to an organization important to him: The Brain Injury Center of Ventura County, P.O. Box 1477, Camarillo, CA 93011 https://www.braininjurycenter.org/donate/ in honor of Jenna Prewitt; or the Muscular Dystrophy Association https:// mda.donordrive.com in memory of Matthew Motzny.

Muscular Dystrophy Association
161 N. Clark, Suite 3550, Chicago IL 60601
Tel: 1-800-572-1717
Web: https://mda.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donate.event&eventID=1055&referrer=TNBGoogle&utm_cam

Brain Injury Center of Ventura County
PO Box 1477, Camarillo CA 93011
Web: https://www.braininjurycenter.org/donate/