June 16, 1943-March 3, 2025

 Junction City, Kan. Joseph Hendricks, fondly known as “Pa” to his grandchildren, died March 3, 2025. Joe was 81 years old.

Joe’s loving spirit is carried on by his wife, three children, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

He met the love of his life, Lillian Mae Thomas, in high school. He and Lillian were married for 62 years. They moved from Princeton to Excelsior Springs in 1962, when Joe got a job working for the city of Excelsior Springs.

Joe quickly moved to a position at Owens Corning Fiberglass, where he worked for 23 years. He then worked for the Excelsior Springs Housing Authority for 20 years.

Joe was a man of many interests and talents. In his earlier years, he enjoyed working on cars. You could often find him in his garage under the hood of a car, with one of his kids holding the flashlight and one of his brothers by his side. He rebuilt several cars over the years, with his favorite being a 1966 Plymouth. It should be noted he sold that car to buy a car for his 16-year-old daughter.

Joe was not only skilled in mechanics, but also could repair or build just about anything. He built a house addition and a sunroom, among other things.

Joe was the No. 1 fan of his children. He was always there to offer his love, support and encouragement, attending track meets, cross country meets and wrestling matches. He was such an enthusiastic fan he could often be seen down on the wrestling mat helping the referees.

No one who met Joe could ever forget his sense of humor. He was never one to resist a joke or a funny story. He was the master of pranks, often to the dismay of his neighbors, who did not always find them funny.

Joe was a man with nine lives. Actually, more than nine. Riddled with many health issues, including heart disease, he tackled them head on. He fought relentlessly.

Despite the pain he lived with, he kept his sense of humor and his commitment to God. He was a member of the Richmond Christian Union Church.

You will forever be in our hearts and will continue to impact our life choices. You always focused on the good in people.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Richmond Christian Union Church, 415 E. Main St., Richmond, MO 64085; or a health care-focused charity.

The visitation was held 5-7 p.m. Thursday, March 6. The service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 7, at Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.