A Celebration of Life Funeral Service for Bruce C. Hendrickson will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska. Rev. Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. will officiate. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege, with Military Honors provided by the United States Naval Military Honors Team.
The service will be live streamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Nelson-Bauer-Funeral-Homes-111601113801622
Bruce Carl Hendrickson, 91, entered into eternal life on March 3, 2022, at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Bruce was born April 4, 1930, the youngest of three sons born to Carl and Ruth (Bosserman) Hendrickson. He was baptized in the Congregational Church in Bertrand, and was then confirmed, and became a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, on March 30, 1941. Bruce received his education from Holdrege Public Schools and graduated from Holdrege High School, in 1948. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where he was involved in the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and the UNL band. Bruce received designations as a Chartered Life Underwriter and Consultant from the American College in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
On April Fool’s Day 1951, Bruce went on a blind date with Carol Jean Schepman of Tec*mseh, Nebraska. On June 12, 1952, they were united in marriage. Bruce was called to active duty on March 6, 1953, in the United States Naval Reserve. He spent 16 weeks in officer candidate school in Newport, Rhode Island, after which, he spent the next three years serving in the Western Pacific Theater, aboard the USS Vammen (DE-644). He conducted Protestant worship services as a voluntary Chaplain aboard the ship.
Bruce’s interests included traveling with his wife to over 50 countries. They were also avid sailors for over 40 years. In his youth, Bruce was a competitive golfer, an Eagle Scout, and a Boy’s State representative for the American Legion. In his retirement, he was a model railroader.
In business, Bruce followed in the footsteps of his father by representing Principal Financial Group (previously Bankers Life Company of Des Moines, Iowa) in Holdrege for over 55 years. In 1975, he was elected President of the National Association of Life Underwriters. He spent considerable time in Washington, D.C. and traveled the country representing the 140,000-member association. Highlights of this experience included visits to the White House and being the key-note speaker at the National Association Convention, hosting President Gerald Ford. Bruce was consistently among the company’s leading salesmen, and in 1979, led the company in total sales volume. In 1998, Bruce was inducted into the company’s Hall of Fame and was presented with the Nebraska Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Distinguished Service Award.
Bruce was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder and in several capacities at the Presbytery and Synod levels. In 1998, he was elected to represent his Presbytery, as a member of the General Assembly. Bruce also served the Chapel at Johnson Lake for over 40 years as a lay leader.
Holdrege was very important to Bruce. He served as: President of both, the City Council, and the Holdrege Rotary Club; was active with the Phelps County Community Foundation: and served as, a director of both, the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Industrial Development Corporation.
Bruce and Carol were supporters of the Arts, as he raised the majority of the financing to build The Tassel Performing Arts Center, which opened in Holdrege in 1999. Bruce also served on the Board for the Museum of Nebraska Art (MONA), for two terms. In 2010, the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Bruce and Carol for their lifetime service and contributions to the community. In 2017, the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) awarded Bruce with the Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award, for exceptional generosity and outstanding demonstration of civic and charitable responsibility.
Bruce’s service to the field of higher education included, his appointment by Governor Tiemann to the Education Commission of the States; serving on the Board of Governors of Central Community College; as a Trustee of the University of Nebraska Foundation; and on the Advisory Council for the Lied Center. He received the Alumni Achievement Award at the University of Nebraska Alumni Association and was appointed to the National Highway Safety Commission by President Ford.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers in infancy, and by the love of his life Carol. He is survived and remembered by his daughter, Julie Ford; son, Mark Hendrickson and husband Daryl; his grandchildren: Ian and Zachary Ford; and extended family and friends.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
A memorial has been established in Bruce’s honor, and kindly suggested to the Phelps County Community Foundation, c/o: The Tassel Endowment Fund; the First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege; the University of Nebraska Foundation; or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family atwww.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.
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