Heaven welcomed Rodney Ray Stenberg on March 26, 2017. He passed away in Seattle at Virginia Mason Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. Rod was born on January 18, 1958 in Yakima, Washington to Barbara (Ice) Lavender and Ray Stenberg. He was raised in Yakima and went to West Valley where he met the love of his life, Nena Belden. In 1974 at the early age of sixteen they were married and they recently celebrated their 43rd Wedding Anniversary.
At a young age, Rod loved working on engines. His first job was at Bosler's Automotive. He then moved his family to The Dalles, Oregon where he worked at Ray Schultens Ford. When they moved back to Yakima he worked at Montgomery Wards Automotive until he went to work for Noel Corporation. Where he worked for the last twenty eight years in the paint shop.
Family was very important to Rod. He enjoyed camping, waterskiing and going to the beach with the entire family. He was a perfectionist and took great pride in restoring and working on old cars, which is evident by the awards he won at the car shows he loved to attend. He always had the coolest boat and cars.
Rod will be deeply missed by his wife Nena, his three daughters, Amanda Hoffman, Andrea Stenberg, and Samantha Stenberg, his son-in-law, Eric Hoffman, two grandsons, Dylan Hoffman and Dawson Hoffman, his mother, Barbara Lavender, his sister, Tina Bowden, and a very special uncle, Cloyd Ice, who he loved and respected. He also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He had many long time friends that he considered family. Alan Strader, Patrick Parsons, Harold Sutphin, and Doug Widhalm were friends that he could always count on and he repsected dearly.
He was proceeded in death by his father, Ray Stenberg, his brother-in-law, Jess Bowden, his uncle, Gerald Ice, and his Grandmother, Thelma Ice.
Viewing will be held at Keith & Keith Funeral Home on Monday, April 3, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Yakima Bible Baptist Church, 6201 Tieton Drive, Yakima on Tuesday, April 4, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Concluding services and burial will follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.
To celebrate the life of Rod and share a memory visit www.keithandkeith.com.
In honor of Rod's passion for old cars, we would love for you to drive yours.
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