HENDRICKSON, Francis L. (1926-2018)

HENDRICKSON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/30/2019 at 00:21:16

Francis Laverne Hendrickson
(October 19, 1926 - December 22, 2018)

There is a popular Christmas song that starts out, “I’ll be home for Christmas”. On Saturday, December 22, 2018, Francis Laverne Hendrickson went Home for Christmas.
Francis was born on Tuesday, October 19, 1926 in the Old Irish Settlement, Cumming, Madison County, Iowa. Francis was the seventh of eleven children born to Orval Frank Hendrickson and Emma Merle Smith Hendrickson. Francis attended school at Bevington, graduated High School from Martensdale, Iowa then joined the Army Air Corp. He was sent to the Philippines with the 36th Air Squadron, clearing caves of remaining enemy forces. Francis then became part of the Army of the Occupation of Japan.
After discharge from the service in 1947, he worked for the railroad, a greenhouse in Shenandoah, Iowa and John Deere in Ankeny. While living in Des Moines, the apartment building next door caught fire, and Dad raced over to help people save their belongings. At the fire he met a beautiful, dark-haired girl. Francis and Beverly Young Hendrickson were married October 1, 1950. He would tell his kids that Beverly burned down a building just to meet him!
Francis had an epic garden, and working in the garden was “his therapy”. He grew beautiful gladiolas, red roses and all kinds of vegies. He could fix anything from a broken toy to the kitchen plumbing. He loved kids, dogs, singing and fishing. At the age of 36, Francis received Jesus as his Saviour. He was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church in St. Charles, Iowa serving as Deacon and spent many hours working on the construction of the original church. Francis retired after 35 years as a machinist with Keo Saw Works in Des Moines.
Francis and Beverly were blessed with 3 children; Phyllis Hendrickson (Doyle) Norris, Phillip (Janet) Hendrickson, James (Cindy) Hendrickson; 9 grandchildren, Amy Norris (Scott) Maxfield, Timothy Norris, Andrew (Ginelle) Norris, Christopher (Andrea) Hendrickson, Jennifer Hendrickson (Mark) Johnston, Courtney Hendrickson (Ryan) Bauman, Kelsey Hendrickson (Mark) Casey, Cassie Hendrickson (Dan) Deatsch, Curtis (Angela) Hendrickson; 21 Great-grandchildren; Sam Maxfield; Jude, Lilli Norris; Jaden, Eilish, Jonah, Holland Norris; Audrey, Cael Johnston; Luke, Hannah Casey; Stone Hendrickson; Claytin, Maddie Piatt, Carter, Olivia Bauman; Lillian, Abby, Charles Deatsch; Emma, Cooper Hendrickson. Francis was preceded in death by his parents, his son, James, his sisters, Doris, Wilma, Illean, Lois, Edith; and brothers, Lowell, Rolla, Donald, Dale.
Services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, December 27, 2018 at Calvary Baptist Church in St. Charles, IA with burial following in the Wallace Cemetery, Wick, IA. Visitation will be held 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, December 26, 2018, at Overton Funeral Home with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to Calvary Baptist Church in St. Charles, IA or Iowa Department for The Blind Library. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/