George Gorentz

George William Gorentz, 91, passed away on May 31, 2026. Born April 23, 1935, George first called Herminie, Pennsylvania home, where he lived until entering the military. He was one of three children born to Mary Cerne.

At 18, fresh out of high school, George joined the U.S. Army and served as a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic—work that suited his steady hands, strong work ethic, and knack for figuring things out. After his time in the Army, he brought that same determination to civilian life, opening his own upholstery business, Arizona Seat Cover. George built a long and successful career and retired in 2004, leaving behind the kind of reputation earned the old-fashioned way: by showing up, doing the job right, and not being afraid of hard work.

During a deployment to Germany, George met Agusta, and the two married and welcomed their daughter, Ann. Later, he became a proud grandpa to two grandchildren, George and Summer, and a great-grandpa to Kevin and David. In later years, George also met Erica, who became a close friend and caregiver—an important presence in his life.

George’s sense of adventure often came with a set of keys and a grin. He loved old cars and had a particular soft spot for pink Cadillacs, a preference that never needed explaining—because George didn’t. In his spare time, he built multiple cars, chasing the satisfaction of a finished project and the simple joy of something that could still turn heads at a stoplight. His humor was never far behind, and even when life got serious, George had a way of keeping things light—often with a well-timed remark and the unmistakable twinkle of someone who’d seen a lot and decided to laugh anyway.

George lived in Phoenix, Arizona, and will be remembered with affection, gratitude, and more than a few stories that are probably best told twice—once the “polite” version, and once the version George would have preferred.