Joan E. Hendrickson Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Joan Elaine (Stewart) Hendrickson was born to Joseph G. and Elma (Price) Stewart on December 10, 1930, the third of three children. She grew up in various communities in York County as her dad farmed in the area during the dirty 30’s. In 1944, Joan’s mother died suddenly and her older brother joined the army, leaving Joan, her older sister, and her father on the farm. In 1946, her older sister married and Joan and her father stayed on the farm. It was during this time that she began to develop her impressive cooking skills. She also took part in 4-H and school activities with many good friends. Joan graduated from Benedict High School in 1949 and enrolled in the teacher education program at Nebraska State Teachers College at Kearney. She earned a 2-year teaching certificate and was employed by Shickley Public Schools in the fall of 1951 as a 3rd and 4th grade teacher. While teaching in Shickley, she stayed at Sadie Pumphrey’s rooming house across the street from the school. Here she made several life-long friends, the very friends she visited on her last Sunday. During her time teaching, she met and married Maurice E. Hendrickson, a local Army vet and farmer. They made their home west of Shickley, where she settled into life as a farm wife, working alongside her husband. She became an excellent cook, using the food raised on the farm and in her large garden. She canned and preserved extensive quantities of food and passed these skills to the next generation. At her house, the coffee pot was always on and there was often pie, or cookies, or cake for “lunch”. They welcomed four children into the family: Susan, Robert, John, and Mary. As the children grew, she entered into the various activities that they were involved in, serving as a 4-H leader for over twenty years, helping with school activities and FFA projects over the years. For a time, she was a fixture at the county and state fairs, helping out all the kids showing animals and fair projects. Joan warmly welcomed many into her home, including her children’s school friends who often enjoyed her hospitality. Joan was active in the community, serving on the Stockholm Women’s WELCA group and other church activities. She also was a charter member of the Shickley Legion Auxiliary and served in various capacities in that organization. In later years, she served on the Board for the Shickley Community Foundation and was a strong proponent of that organization. As her children got older, she and Maurice began welcoming exchange students into their home and hosted several individuals from New Zealand, Germany, Finland, and Costa Rica through the 4-H IFYE program and the FFA’s Work Experience Abroad program. In later years, she and Maurice traveled to Morocco to visit son John serving in the Peace Corps and to Sweden, Germany, and Finland to visit distant relatives and several former exchange students. Joan was always a strong advocate of education, encouraging each of her children to pursue their education beyond high school. After her children were in college, Joan began working part time at Richard Walter Insurance, eventually transitioning to full time and becoming the Shickley village clerk. In 2000, Maurice and Joan moved into Shickley and thoroughly enjoyed town life. Family was always very important to Joan, and in addition to her children, she welcomed two sons-in-law (Dave Biba and John Emery) and a daughter-in-law (Chris Cowan Hendrickson) to the family. But she especially enjoyed and took pride in her grandchildren: Catherine Biba, Brandon Biba and wife, Brittni, and Elizabeth, Jonah, and Annika Hendrickson. She was delighted to meet her great-granddaughter, Addison Biba, just this past April. Joan was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Maurice; sister, Dorothy Ferrell; brother, Joseph Stewart; and son-in-law, Dave Biba. Surviving her are her children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, and many other relatives and friends. Memorials are suggested to the Shickley Community Foundation. Funeral services for Joan were held on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Stockholm Lutheran Church, Rural Shickley, Nebraska. Pastor Jon Jensen officiated the services. Stan Johnson accompanied the congregation in the signing on “What A Friend We Have In Jesus,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Rock Of Ages.” He also accompanied Patti Jensen in the singing of “In The Sweet By & By.” Pallbearers for the services included Brandon Biba, Jonah Hendrickson, Dennis Kliewer, Denton Kliewer, Darrell Botts, and Paul Fredricks. Interment was held following the funeral service in the Swedish Cemetery. Memorials are directed to the Shickley Community Foundation. Farmer & Son Funeral Home of Geneva conducted the services.

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Joan E. Hendrickson

December 10, 1930 - June 22, 2014