Frank & Bright Funeral Home
Rod Hoyt
Aug 20th, 1960 - Oct 28th, 2026Rodney D. Hoyt, age 66, of Louisville, Illinois, passed away on Wednesday evening, October 28, 2026.
Rod was born on August 20, 1960, in Flora, to the late Paul “Dean” Hoyt and Patricia Ann (Smith) Hoyt. He was a 1978 graduate of North Clay High School.
On February 10, 1995, Rod married Jill McKnelly in Las Vegas, Nevada, and they shared 31 years of marriage.
Rod worked constantly, and that’s the first thing anybody would tell you about him. He spent more than 40 years in construction, starting out with Stanfield Construction before going out on his own. For the last 30 years, he owned and operated Air Construction. The name was borrowed from his favorite Chicago Bulls player, Michael Jordan. He always had something else going, too — including rental properties, and most recently the opening of Cheerz Liquor & Game in Louisville.
When Rod did put his tools down, he spent the time on the people he loved. He didn’t need much in the way of plans, because hanging out with his family, his cousins, and his friends was enough. There were several family trips to Florida in recent years, but time at home suited him fine, too. He enjoyed float trips on the Current River, the same river he floated with his cousins growing up. Rod was a Corvette man. He drove several over the years, but his first, a 1980 model, held a special place in his heart. He kept music on wherever he went, and was a longtime fan of rock music and KSHE 95, appreciating a good signal when he could catch one.
Rod helped a lot of people, especially with building and repair projects, and he made many friends along the way. All of his work was for his family, and they were who he was proudest of.
Rod is survived by his wife, Jill Hoyt of Louisville; his children, Whitney Hoyt (Chad Jefferds) of Wilmington, North Carolina, Jenna (Bryce) Holkenbrink of Louisville, Jacob Hoyt of Louisville, and Denise Bradbie (Dan Gotkin) of Brooklyn, New York; two grandchildren, Xavier Bradbie and Annabelle Gotkin; his sister, Kim (Greg) Smith of Louisville; and his parents-in-law, Carolyn and Dennis Shoemaker of Buchanan, Tennessee, and Bob McKnelly of Louisville.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Darren Hoyt; and his grandparents, Ted and Letitia Smith, and Clyde and Charlotte Hoyt.
A visitation will be held from 4 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening, November 3, 2026, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora. Words of remembrance will be shared by Curtis Leib at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the family and will be accepted at the funeral home. To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com