Roderick L. Frantz

Roderick L. “Rod” Frantz, 87, of Benton Harbor, passed away on August 16, 2021 at his home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 21, at 10 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 220 Church St., St. Joseph, with Father John Fleckenstein officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI. Friends may visit with the family on Friday, August 20, from 6 PM until 8 PM at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Rod was born on May 3, 1934 in Bad Axe, MI, to Leonard “Pete” & Louise (Bismack) Frantz. He graduated from Coloma High School in 1952 and immediately joined the United States Army where he proudly served our country until 1956. He was deployed to Germany where he served in the Security Agency, the European Theater and was a Morse Code Interpreter during the Cold War. After he returned home, Rod began working as a brick layer. He would later become a member of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers, Michigan Bricklayer Locals - #20 Benton Harbor, #17 Kalamazoo, and #19 Lansing. During his career, Rod spent several years working as a foreman at Cook Nuclear Power Plant. Rod finally retired on January 1, 1998, after 42 years of doing a job he loved. On March 31, 1988, Rod married Dorothy Friesen, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a proud member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Vincent De Paul in Holiday, FL and the American Legion Post 362 in Coloma. Rod is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Dorothy; children, Richard (Sherry) Frantz of Santa Rosa, FL, Rita Totzke of Mishawaka, Rhonda (Jeff) Wiessner of Schoolcraft, and Rachelle (Matt) Brown of Mattawan; step-children, Steven and Douglas Kadrovach, both of Pensacola, FL and Bruce Kadrovach of Deer Lodge, TN, Maria (David) Pennebaker of Youngstown, FL, and Patricia (Kenneth) Ward of Newton, AL; and 13 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. Rod was preceded in death by his parents, Pete & Louise; son, Robert Frantz; step-son, Paul Kadrovach; and sister, Janice Ison.