Jeffrey P. Hendrickson

CHOCOLAY TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Jeffrey P. Hendrickson, 75, of Chocolay Township, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday, May 13, 2024, working in his garden, doing what he loved.

Jeff was born in Mt. Clemens, to Phillip A. and Ruth (Helmes) Hendrickson, the eldest of seven children. He grew up in Ironwood, attending the McKinley and Roosevelt Grade Schools and graduated in 1966 from Luther L. Wright High School.

He attended Gogebic Community College in Ironwood for two years, majoring in business administration. He continued his studies at NMU, obtaining his bachelor's degree in 1976 in business administration with an accounting major.

Jeff served two years in the US Army as a military police officer in Frankfurt, Germany.

He worked as an apprentice pipe-fitter for two years at the Industrial Piping Company. He continued his employment as a journeyman steam-fitter for 30 years in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. He was a member of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 806 then Local 111.

Jeff had many interests through the years including golf, collecting vinyl record albums, gardening, hobby farming, spending time at his camp in Alger County, down-hill skiing, woodworking, antiquing and taking saunas.

He is survived by the love of his life, Diane Romatz and her children, Steve (Melissa) Romatz of Hortonville, Wisconsin, and their children, Courtney and Jared and Dennis Romatz of Bangkok, Thailand, and his son, Kaden; siblings, Christine "Tina" (Brian) Ciesielczyk of Ironwood, Rolf (Beth) Hendrickson of Ironwood, Jane Hendrickson of Minocqua, Wisconsin, and Lisa Hendrickson (Wayne) Jorgensen of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin; sister-in-law, Carol Hendrickson of Bath, Pennsylvania; nieces and nephews, Amy and Jacob Ciesielczyk, Seth and Hannah Hendrickson, Rachel Williams, Rebecca Quinlan, Cory Hendrickson, Jamie Staniec and Liam Jeffrey Jorgensen; as well as numerous cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Paul and Phillip.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Canale-Tonella Funeral Home in Marquette.

An additional Celebration of Life will be held in Ironwood on July 13.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Northern Michigan University and/or the Gogebic Community College Foundation in Ironwood.

Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting Jeff's family where memories and condolences may be shared at canalefuneral.com.