Marvalene Hendrickson

MARVALENE HENDRICKSON

Iowa City

Marvalene Hendrickson passed away peacefully Sept. 1, 2017, at her home in Iowa

City at the age of 86. She entered into God's hands surrounded by her family.

Marvalene Marie Myers was born July 25, 1931, in Abingdon, Iowa, to Clyde and Mildred (Wilson) Myers. She graduated from Packwood High School in 1949. Marvalene was an All-State forward for the Packwood girls basketball team, leading Packwood to its only state tournament berth in 1949.

She was known as "Marvelous Marvalene" for her exploits on the court, and the Des Moines press dubbed her as "the Murray Weir of the 1949 girls state basketball tournament." Marvalene attended AIB (American Institute of Business) in Des Moines, where she played on the college basketball team.

Marvalene married George Hendrickson on New Year's Day in 1950 in Packwood. They settled in George's hometown of Richland, Iowa, where they were key members of the community for many decades. She also was an active member of Richland United Methodist Church. George and Marvalene owned and operated Hendrickson Implement Co. in Richland for more than 50 years. They also owned Keokuk County Implement in Sigourney and Fairfield Equipment Co. in Fairfield. Their other business interests included a row crop farming operation, a registered Black Angus cattle company and GMH Classic Cars.

In 1991, Marvalene moved to Iowa City, where she quickly made new friends by the dozen. She volunteered in the gift shop at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for many years and was an usher at Hancher Auditorium. She was an active member of Coralville United Methodist Church and a longtime member of the University of Iowa Presidents Club.

Left to honor and remember her love are three children and six grandchildren: son, Jeff, and Cindy Hendrickson of Coralville, and their daughters, Carisa (Dylan) Arnold of Coralville and Angie (David) De Groot of Washington, D.C.; daughter, Nancy and Darrell Schipper of Williamsburg, and their son, Adam (Abby) Sanchez of Williamsburg; and son, Mark, and Ericka Hendrickson of Macomb, Ill., and their children, Myers (fiancee, Hannah) of Cedar Rapids, Davis (Katie) of Champaign, Ill., and Georgie of Macomb. Marvalene also leaves behind nine great-grandchildren, who lovingly called her "GG": Ella, Mia and Grayson Hendrick Arnold; Georgia and John Winston De Groot; and Taylor, Tenley, Tyson and Teagan Sanchez. She also is survived by her brother, Merle Myers, of Iowa City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George; and her sister, Marilyn Mercer.

Marvalene will be remembered for her selfless devotion to her family, as well as her strong work ethic, independence, sophistication and sense of style. Her vivacious personality and beautiful smile left an indelible impression on everyone she met.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at Coralville United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

Online condolences may be sent to www.lensingfuneral.com.