Obit: Hendricks, Olive E. (1920 - 2018)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Arndt, Brundidge, Gerber, Gronski, Hendricks, Jenkins, Pavlik, Pothireddy, Slomanski, Tuell, Villiard, Worsencroft, Zelm

----Source: The Nash-Jackan Funeral Home (Ladysmith, WI) 5/20/2018

Hendricks, Olive E. (Arndt) (24 JUL 1920 - 17 MAY 2018)

Olive E. Hendricks, 97 of Bruce, died on Thursday, May 17, 2018 at her home in rural Bruce.

She is survived by 2 sons and 4 daughters; Tom Hendricks of Bloomer, Gary Hendricks of Cumberland, Marilyn Gronski of Ham Lake, MN, Kathy Hendricks of Bruce, Margie Gerber of Exeland, and Paula Villiard of Bruce, 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 2 sisters-in-law, Florence Pavlik of Ladysmith and Pat Hendricks of Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral Services for Olive E. Hendricks will be on Wednesday, May 23rd at 4:00 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bruce with Fr. Inna Pothireddy officiating. Burial will be in the Bruce Village Cemetery. Friends may call on Wednesday at St. Mary’s Church from 2:00 p.m. until the time of services.

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----Source: The Eau Claire Leader-Telegram (Eau Claire, WI) 5/20/2018

Olive E. Hendricks, 97 of Bruce, passed away peacefully on May 17, 2018 at her home in rural Bruce under the care of Lakeview Medical Center Hospice from a lung disease.

She was surrounded by her loving children and passed away a half hour before her great-grandson Isaac woke from his nap and told his Nana that he’d been praying that the guardian angels would take great grandma and make her feel better. Ollie was a strong believer in the power of prayer and the end of her life reflected this.

Ollie was born on July 24, 1920 in Hanover, MT to Arthur Arndt and Lillie (Brundidge) Arndt. Her family moved to northern Wisconsin the following year and made their home in the Exeland area. She was a graduate of the Ladysmith High School Class of 1937.

It was in Ladysmith that she met her future husband, Leonard “Chick” Hendricks and the two were married on February 15, 1941 at Our Lady of Sorrows. In 1948, Chick and Ollie moved to Bruce where they built their home and business, Hendricks Bros. Auto Sales, and she continued to live there for 65 years. The last five years of her life were spent living in her new home with her daughter Paula and family along the peaceful Chippewa River where she enjoyed watching the deer, turkeys, and bear roam about the yard.

Ollie devoted her life not only to her family in any way she could, from helping with home remodeling projects, babysitting, to planning family camping trips but also to so many others, including her church. She served as Altar Society Treasurer for many years, helped with church building and remodeling projects, and helped with any cleaning and cooking that needed to be done at the church and rectory. For several years she worked as a teacher’s aide in the Bruce School District, working with children in the Early Childhood program, special education students, and students who just needed tutoring in all different subject areas. She was an active member of the Bruce community for 60 years, spending 16 years as a board member for the low income and elderly housing complex and also working on the election board for the village for countless years. Ollie was a Girl Scout troop leader and a Boy Scout den mother. She was a dedicated sports fan who attended her kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events as well as concerts, class plays, and graduations.

Ollie was a very talented woman who was blessed with the gift of music. She played the piano and harmonica but only by ear, as she was not able to read even one note on a sheet of music. She won many harmonica competitions when she was a young girl. Ollie loved to bake and while raising her family only one block from the Bruce School, countless school kids would end up at her home after school for snacks and they were welcomed with open arms and lots of fresh baked goods.

Ollie is survived by her six children, Tom (Bonnie) Hendricks of Bloomer; Marilyn (Jerry) Gronski of Ham Lake, MN; Kathy Hendricks (Tom Zelm) of Bruce; Gary (Ann) Hendricks of Cumberland; Margie (Rick) Gerber of Exeland; and Paula (Larry) Villiard of Bruce; 13 grand children; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Florence Pavlik of Ladysmith and Pat Hendricks of Sioux Falls, SD. She is further survived by a special niece, Nancy Jenkins of Wadsworth, OH.

She was preceded in death by her husband Chick in 2006; her parents Arnold & Lillie Arndt; three sisters, Louise Worsencroft, Helen Tuell, & Ruth Slomanski; and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bruce with Fr. Inna Pothireddy officiating. Interment will be in the Bruce Village Cemetery. Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until the time of service.

The family of Olive Hendricks would like to thank the Lakeview Medical Center Hospice Team for their love and support, especially Mom’s dedicated RN, Brooke who brightened her days with her kind words and loving touch. We will be forever grateful to you Brooke.

Romans 8:26 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter, He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans.

Nash-Jackan Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.