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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Rick Hendryx
RICK HENDRYX
Cedar Rapids
Rick Hendryx, 75, passed away peacefully at the Mercy Hospice House on Sunday, March 22, 2020, following a battle with cancer.
Rick was born June 18, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and grew up there. He attended Regis High School, where he was a standout athlete in football and baseball. He went on to play football at the University of Iowa and obtained his degree in teaching. Upon graduation, he married Lynn Hendyx (Burkhart) and they settled in the Cedar Rapids area, where he taught history and coached a wide variety of sports at his alma mater.
In 1974, his family moved to Waterloo when he took the head football coach job at Waterloo Columbus. He continued to teach and took on athletic director responsibilities there. During his 16 years at Columbus, his teams won two 3A state championships, made the playoffs in multiple seasons and together with his coaching staff and players, built a winning tradition that he was very proud of.
He was inducted into the Iowa High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame and recently into Columbus' Athletic Hall of Fame. He made lifelong friendships at Columbus and cherished the camaraderie and relationships with those with whom he worked.
After the passing of his wife, Lynn, he remarried Charlene Hendryx (Smith) and together they moved to Des Moines, where he taught history and coached football briefly at Lincoln High School until his retirement. His passion for football extended past his playing and coaching days, through his love for the Hawkeyes and Green Bay Packers. He was a lifelong fisherman. He loved to garden, play bridge, gamble and spend time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his best friend and companion, his dog Charlie, with his family coming in a very close second.
Dad, Gramps, Coach Dick: oh how we will miss you. Life with you was never dull, you were truly one of a kind, and our life was certainly more fun with you in it. The stories we will share with one another about your humor and antics through the years will keep us laughing forever. Thank you for being YOU.
A celebration of life will be held later this year. Memorial contributions may be designated for the Animal Rescue League of Des Moines. Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com.
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