Ronald J. Rebain, age 77 of Farmington Hills, passed away August 3, 2020 after a brief illness.

Ron was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer on July 16th, 2020 and was deemed not to be a candidate for treatment. Before he was plagued with the physical limitations that came with his rapid and declining health, Ron was able to make countless memories with family and friends. As a devout Catholic, he attended church every week and truly appreciated the wonderful life he was fortunate to have.

Having just celebrated 56 years of marriage on June 13th, Ron and his wife Pat were able to call upon all the wonderful experiences they have shared. They were blessed with two daughters, Kim and Rebecca, who both happened to marry men named Michael. Their family continued to grow with six wonderful grandchildren: Avory, Erika (who sadly passed as a baby), Connor, Shay, Joey and Sofia. While never fully admitting or denying it, everyone knew that Avory was Ron’s “favorite”, as many first-born grandchildren hold a special place in one’s heart.

With his father, uncle and cousins, Ron ran a tool and die company, serving the automotive industry for many years until retiring in 2018. His passion carried over outside of his work. He loved to drive and took impeccable care of his cars. He looked forward to long road trips, especially those that took him through the beautiful state of Michigan. He always made sure that he had an extensive snack selection, which he usually broke into about 15 minutes into the trip.

Ron loved Detroit long before it was cool. He couldn’t wait to try the new restaurants he would read about in the paper or Hour Magazine. He recently said that he wished he were younger, as he would have loved to live downtown during the city’s recent re-birth. Along with the new, he appreciated Detroit’s history as well, all of the churches and old buildings that have stood the test of time. He loved to watch sports on TV and was a devoted (and often frustrated) fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions, Red Wings and Pistons. Fall Saturdays were spent watching college football. A long time Wolverine fan, at some point and much to Kim’s chagrin, he switched his allegiance to the Spartans (Kim attended U of M and Rebecca attended Michigan State). No matter the sport, he was known for yelling at the TV when there were bad plays or bad calls and often vowed to never watch certain teams again. But of course, he always did. Ron wasn’t just an observer, he loved to golf and was on several different bowling teams, often with his cousins. He liked to play cards, read, and was an active member of the Kiwanis Club for many years.

Although Ron will be remembered for many things, his great, sarcastic sense of humor really shined. He had a legendary deep voice; intimidating when he wasn’t yelling, but downright scary when he was. He also had a beautiful singing voice and was often asked if he worked in radio, or at least told that he should have. He had a famous sweet tooth that was soothed nightly by ice cream and you could bet he always had a big stash of chocolates and cookies nearby. He loved to go to the grocery store and was on a first name basis with the man who worked in the bakery.

Above all, Ron was truly dedicated to his family and his faith. Although no amount of time would ever allow a proper goodbye, Ron left a remarkable impression on the lives he’s met along the way. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, especially by his cherished family.

Ron was the beloved husband of Pat for 56 years. Loving father of Kim (Michael) Pawlak and Rebecca (Michael) Gualdoni. Dear Papa of Avory (Matt Szado), Connor, Shay, Joey, Sofia and the late Erika. Also survived by his “cousin-brother” Jerry (Theresa) Fliss. He was predeceased by his parents John and Sally Rebain, and his sister Rose Nelson.

Visitation for Ron will take place on Thursday, August 6th, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Service at McCabe Funeral Home, 31950 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills. He will lie in state on Friday, August 7th at 10:30 a.m. until the time of his Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Fabian Catholic Church, 32200 W. 12 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills.

Memorial donations in Ron’s name are appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Angela Hospice, ASPCA and Michigan Humane.

Politely keeping everyone's safety in mind, family and friends will be asked to wear a mask and maintain proper distancing while attending visitation and church services.