Carl “Leo” Hendricks, age 92 of Montgomery City, died peacefully at home, on Saturday, June 7, 2025, after a two year dance with lung cancer.
Leo was born July 16, 1932 in Buell, the youngest son of Charles Lemon and Sylvia Jewell (Davis) Hendricks. He married Joyce Marie Winter on March 25, 1956 in Bellflower. They joyously celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this past spring.
Leo attended a one-room schoolhouse in Buell and he liked to say he was “the smartest and the dumbest student in his 8th grade class,” as he was the only student in his class. After graduating from Montgomery County High School, he worked for Burlington Railroad and then he served in the Korean War. After returning home from Korea, he was an agent for several insurance companies. In 1969, he became employed by the Missouri State Highway Department and retired after 21 years of service. Upon retirement he had his own lawn service for a number of years. He enjoyed taking good care of lawns, especially for older clients.
Leo was a past president of the Montgomery City Lions and past president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #1329 in Hermann. He was proudly initiated into the Masonic Order on March 11, 2004 and was raised to Master Mason on May 8, 2004. He was an active member in the Moolah Shrine and Mid-Mo Shrine Clubs. He was happy to work hard to support the Shriners, whether it was making and selling brats in Hermann or selling Vidalia onions as a fundraiser, for which he was “Montgomery’s Vidalia Onion Man” and a top tier seller. He was a member of the First United Methodist Presbyterian Church of Montgomery City where he had previously served as a trustee.
It made his day if he could share a joke or bring a smile to most any and everyone he encountered. He was known for his big smile, big heart and a twinkle in his eye. He never knew a stranger. Leo had an amazing memory and great stories all his life. He told of growing up in Buell with some other “ornery” boys and often commented that they were “lucky to live through to adulthood!”
He truly enjoyed the outdoors, whether working in his yard or garden, hunting, fishing, trapping or playing golf. He went deer hunting with the bow and gun each season from the age of 15 and had some memorable trips to Colorado and Alaska for hunting. His yard and garden were his pride and joy. He especially loved sharing his garden produce with others. After retirement he and Joyce enjoyed travels with family and friends, including trips to Europe where he summed it up as “the buildings were old and the bread was hard.” He had a great sense of humor.
He dearly loved his family and they each knew it as he was always saying “I love you!” He is survived by his “three favorite women”, loving wife Joyce and two proud daughters Teresa (Jeffrey) Gentry of Hannibal and Carla (George) Taylor of Mt. Juliet, Tenn. Also surviving are grandchildren who he loved to boast about, Elizabeth (Greg) Brunner, Nicholas (Hannah) Gentry, Benjamin Gentry and Lindsey (Dylan) Stephens; granddaughter-in-law Esther Taylor; and step-grandson Jason (Kim) Taylor. He adored his great-grandchildren Miriam, Cecilia, Leo, Felicity, Constantine, Anna Rose and Gabriella Brunner, and Brenna, Noble and Uriah Taylor; step-grandchildren, Austin (Makayla) Taylor and Morgan (Kenny) Gregory. Other survivors include a sister-in-law, Peggy Gardner; sister/brother-in-law, Marilyn and Charles Grosse; sister/brother-in-law, Russell and Susie Winter; and 14 nieces and nephews.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Brenda; a grandson, Joshua Taylor; three brothers, Duard, Dean and Dale; one sister/brother-in-law, Fern and Doug Anson; and brother/sister-in-law Clifford and Merle Winter. All family was special and many friends were like family to him.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. on June 11 at Schlanker Funeral Home with a Masonic service led by Kenny Brundage at 6:45 p.m. The funeral service, led by Mike Brandenburg, will be at 2 p.m. on June 12 at the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in Montgomery City with visitation from 1:30 p.m.-2 p.m.. Interment will follow at Sunrise Memorial Gardens in Montgomery City. Pallbearers will be Jim Block, Dorsey Stotler, Mike Grosse, Wayne Ardell, Joe Dean Hendricks and Rex Haines. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Cahill, Louie Seig, Charles Kelsey, Mike Brandenburg and Ron Knigge.
The family thanks Gentiva Hospice for its excellent care of Leo and the family. Memorial contributions can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church of Montgomery City or Sunrise Memorial Gardens.
