WALLACE HENDRICKSON

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

WALLACE HENDRICKSON May 29, 1928 - September 13, 2016 Ernest Wallace Henriksson was born at home on May 29, 1928. His parents, Gerda Hemming and Axel Henriksson, were Swedish immigrants who raised their eight daughters and three sons on a farm in the bush near Inwood, Manitoba. Wallace is survived by Jean, his wife of 63 years; his six daughters, Barbara, Kathy (Allan), Susan (Terry), Lorna (Gary), Karla, and Jennifer (Gord); his son Henry; and his youngest sister Bernice. His grandchildren are Anthony Hendrickson; Jonas, Aaron and Kieran Hendrickson-Gracie; Jane, Thor and Hanna Hendrickson-Rebizant; Kristin Hendrickson and Shawn Dealey (Finn); Nick and Claire Pankiw; Adam, Matthew and Peter Revel; and Luke Hendrickson. Wallace grew up working on his family farm and attending McFarlane School. As young men did in those days, he left school after eighth grade to take on a bigger role on the farm. In 1950, Wallace met the new teacher in town, Jean Sklepowich, and they were married in 1953. Wallace and Jean moved to Winnipeg for two years where Barbara was born, and then to Wekusko where Wallace worked as a bus driver, a truck driver, and a dragline operator. Kathy, Susan and Lorna were born during those years in the north. In 1960, the family returned to Winnipeg and the house on Warsaw Avenue. There, Karla and Jenny were born - the sixth daughter born on Father's Day, 1963. Wallace continued to work in the north on construction projects while Jean stayed in Winnipeg caring for their family. On January 1, 1967, Wallace, Jean and their six girls moved to a farm they had purchased near Narcisse. Henry was born in 1971. Over the past fifty years the entire family worked on and off the farm to make a living. Wallace worked many years as a ranch hand at the Narcisse Community Pasture. As each of the girls left for university, the younger siblings took on more of the responsibilities. Wallace was still doing his best to help Henry and Luke on the fields this summer. He was such a hard worker. He thought he could do everything, and do it best. He was tough and he was stubborn. His last words to Henry were "Go home, and get to work." Typical. Wallace liked farming, machinery, driving trucks, hunting, wrestling, Gunsmoke, Wrangler blue jeans, country music, cowboy boots, hats, his dogs Winnie and Blue, peppermints, lutefisk, strong coffee, sweet tea, reminiscing, Copenhagen snuff, and Crown Royal; and he loved his grandchildren. He had the bluest eyes ever. Wallace died in the early hours of September 13. His daughters, Barbara, Lorna and Jenny, were with him. A family memorial will be held at a later date when all of Wallace's grandchildren can be in attendance. Memorial donations, if desired, can be made to the Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Inwood, Manitoba. "No day shall erase you from the memory of time." Virgil Wojcik's Funeral Chapels & Crematoriums, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 24, 2016