Obituaries: Henrichs

Dennis HenrichsDennis Henrichs

Dennis W. Henrichs, 72, of Bloomington, passed away at 12:50 p.m. on Jan. 9 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, surrounded by his wife and children.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bloomington.   A memorial visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington.  A short service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Danforth, with a visitation 30 minutes prior to services.  Interment will be at Danforth Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy), 430 West Erie St., Suite 210, Chicago 60654.  To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.

He was born Feb. 6, 1943 in Danforth, Ill., son of Wilbur and Bertha Saathoff Henrichs.  He was raised in Danforth and attended Gilman High School, excelling in football.  He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Illinois State University in 1970 and spent most of his career in administrative services at State Farm, retiring in 2004 after 32 years.

Dennis loved nothing more than working in his carefully constructed farm garden with his wife, Kay, and watching NASCAR races.  He spent hours painting farm decorations, trimming trees, landscaping and chatting with neighbors.  Dennis and Kay’s garden was featured twice in the Glorious Garden Walk, sponsored by the David Davis Mansion.  He was infamous for his one-liners, and no one was spared.  Everyone Dennis met was hit with a few of his favorite jokes.  His sincerity, honesty and sense of humor were admired by so many.  He will be missed.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kay; his sister, Joan (Richard) Schluep, Rocky River, OH; his children, Andrew Henrichs, Bloomington and Ashleigh (Kevin Pratt) Henrichs, Pleasant Prairie, WI and his three beloved grandchildren, Caroline, Mary and Henry Pratt.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

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