Duane Allan Hendrickson

Duane Allan Hendrickson (8/17/1935 – 12/31/2019)

Duane Allan Hendrickson, age 84, passed away on December 31, 2019.  Duane was born on August 17, 1935 to Edwin and Mildred (Anderson) Hendrickson in their home in Centuria, WI.

He grew up in Balsam Lake, WI attending Balsam Lake Schools and graduating from Balsam Lake High School in 1953.  Duane was active in Band, Choir, Football, Basketball, Baseball and Forensics.

After graduation, Duane attended the University of Wisconsin River Falls for one year and then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Korea.

He married Dorene Wedlund on November 9, 1957.  To this marriage, four sons were born: Wayne, Warren, Wesley and William.  Duane and Dorene raised their boys in Balsam Lake where Duane ran an excavation business.

Due to an accident in April of 1968, Duane was left paralyzed from the waist down and was told he would not walk again.  As a result of his fighting nature and warrior attitude, Duane did walk again with the use of one or two crutches and was able to take on everyday life.

Duane worked at several jobs including the Ford dealership in Luck, the bank in Balsam Lake, and as a jailer dispatcher at the old jail behind the original Balsam Lake Courthouse.  He mostly settled in as a self-employed used car salesman in Balsam Lake.  He had a fondness for operating heavy equipment and doing mechanical work.  He loved to tinker and will be remembered for his creative revisions to vehicles, lawn mowers, and many other machines so that he could operate them using mainly his hands.

He cherished his boyhood friendships and especially maintained a strong bond with the group of friends who purchased the Raven’s Nest deer camp together in 1971. The Raven’s Nest remains active today through their children and grandchildren.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, son Warren, and infant great-grandson Benjamin Maurer.

He is survived by his wife Dorene; sons Wayne (Marney), Wesley (Tracy), and William (special friend Barbara Waalen); grandchildren Matthew (Amy) Maurer, Gabriel, Jordan, Derek, Jacob (Lauren Pittman), Joshua (Anna), Jessica, Jenna, Landon and Logan Hendrickson; great-grandchildren Tatum, Callan and Isaac Maurer and Eleanore Hendrickson; brothers Don (Shirley) and Dale (Chloe); nephew Bryan Hendrickson; and nieces Rhonda (Paul) Suckut and Tanya (Robert) Bauer.

Visitation will be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake, WI on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from 4:00-7:30 P.M. Funeral Service will also be held at Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. with visitation from 10:00 A.M. until time of service with lunch to follow. Duane will be laid to rest at the Balsam Lake Cemetery following the funeral. Military Honors will be rendered. Duane's grandchildren will be pallbearers.