John Parker Hendrickson

VERONA- John Parker Hendrickson, age 89, passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at his residence after a long illness. He was born July 23, 1919, in La Crosse, WI, to Walter and Alice (Parker) Hendrickson. John graduated from Wisconsin High School in 1937 and attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison. On February 7, 1946, he married Eunice Sommers in Chicago, IL. He was a resident of Madison for 51 years and a Verona resident for 33 years. John owned and operated E.W. Parker Jewelers in Madison. He was an avid gardener, enjoyed woodworking, and attended Bethel Lutheran Church. John was a member of the 81^st Combat Army Engineers Unit of the 106^th Infantry Division during World War II. He was a prisoner of war during the Battle of the Bulge and he marched across Germany with other POWs during the winter of 1944. While locked in a boxcar the POWs came under attack by Allied Forces. When the planes started firing the German guards fled and the POWs were able to get out of the boxcar. They used their bodies to form the letters POW in the snow and the friendly-fire stopped. John was a member of the Ex-POWs, Disabled American Veterans, Melody Chapter of Eastern Star, Veterans Firing Squad and the York Rite. He was a life member of the Arab Patrol and the Veteran Patrol. John was an honorary member of the 33^rd degree of Scottish Rite, an officer of the Princess of Jerusalem of Scottish Rite, Sovereign of the Red Cross of Constantine, Past Master of Commonwealth Lodge #325, an officer of The DeMolay Legion of Honor, past President of the Wisconsin Masonic Unity, Director of the Wisconsin Masonic Medical Foundation, and Potentate of the Zor Shrine in 1977. John was also a member of the Masonic Service Association at the Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, where he volunteered over 12,000 hours during 18 years. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Eunice Hendrickson of Verona; sons, Dave (Cindy) Hendrickson of Onalaska and John Hendrickson Jr. of Madison; daughters, Liz (Ron) Byers of Belvidere, IL and Susan (Bill) Pleus of Madison; grandchildren: Becky, Stephanie and Jessie Hendrickson, Eric Pleus, Jim Byers, Ronnie Byers, Lynn Anderson and Sarah Bagstad; 12 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and beloved pets Dawn and Moosie. John was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Harriet Johnson and Mary Alice Mucks, and grandson Adam Parker Pleus. A memorial service with Masonic Rites and full Military Honors will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, March 24, 2009, at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, with a visitation starting at 1:00 PM. Rev. Juliana Lesher, Chaplain from the V.A. Hospital, will be officiating. Memorials may be made to Angels Wish in Verona, Melody Chapter #150 of Eastern Star in Middleton, or to the HospiceCare Foundation, Inc., in Fitchburg.