Andrew 'Andy' J. Hendrickson Jr.

NOVI, Mich. - Andrew "Andy" J. Hendrickson Jr., 76, passed away on March 15, 2015, in Novi.

Andrew was born Sept. 27, 1938, to Andrew and Ellen Hendrickson. He grew up in Ironwood and graduated from Luther L. Wright High School in 1956. He then attended the University of Michigan on a football scholarship. He transferred to Valparaiso University where he graduated in 1962 with a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering. He also played varsity football at Valparaiso, including an opportunity to play against Fuzzy Thurston (Green Bay Packer great and lineman who played under coach Vince Lombardi) in the Old Timers alumni game.

He married Marilynn Gillespie on July 5, 1963. They purchased a farm on South Davis Road and raised three sons, Gregory, Jarrod and Konrad.

A lifelong resident of Ironwood, he touched many in the community with his work, his charity and his passions. He worked as a logger, plant manager, homebuilder and construction contractor. Along with being active in the church, he provided shelter and support for victims of domestic violence (D.O.V.E.).

He was an athlete, a scholar, a civil engineer, a farmer, a husband, a brother, a father, a friend. All this helped him survive through his ultimate tests: a broken neck as the result of a fall, and mental illness. Through his dark hours there was always a gentleness of spirit and light of generosity at his core. He waged a heroic unseen struggle - the fruits of his struggle were that he always enjoyed sharing a coffee and a cookie, hard work and a cold beer, and sitting on the porch in the morning sun with a plate of potatoes steamed with fresh green garlic and eggs.

He is survived by his three sons, Gregory (Denise Gray), in California, Jarrod (Margaret), South Lyon, Mich., and Konrad, Springfield, Mo .; brothers, Gerald, Ironwood, and David (Paula), New Lenox, Ill .; sister, Kathryn (James) Anderson, Ironwood; former wife, Marilynn (Pete Billquist), Florida; as well as numerous other family members and friends. He has six grandchildren, Alexis, Sydnee, Ashlyn, Conner, Cooper and Kaija.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Mark; and infant daughter, Jessica.

A family memorial will be held in the summer in Ironwood. The family has arranged a memorial page at youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/andrew-j-hendrickson-jr-memorial/324673.

Thank you for sharing the gifts of your life with us. You are loved. You are missed.