Frederick A. Hendron

Frederick "Fred" Hendron Jr., of Kankakee, passed away Wednesday (April 17, 2013) at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee. He was 86. He was born May 30, 1926, in Chicago, the eldest son of Frederick Hendron and Margaret Rowley Hendron, both of Chicago. Upon graduation from Mount Carmel High School, Chicago, where he lead his team to the state football championship, Fred enlisted in the U.S. Navy and proudly served during World War II, on the USS Starlight. Following the war, Fred attended Marquette University and then returned to Chicago where he met Phyllis Benoit and married May 1, 1954, the love of his life for 59 years. The young couple started their life together in Denver, Colo., where their eldest son, Douglas, was born. The couple then moved to Riverside, Calif., and raised their young family. Fred and Phyllis moved their family back to Kankakee, where Fred spent his career as a partner in Duncan- Hendron Ford and then as a residential and Commercial Realtor. He received numerous awards from the Illinois Association of Realtors for sales achievements earning him the life membership award. He proudly served as tournament chairman for the Riverside Pro-Am Golf Tournament for more than 10 years. Fred and Phyllis gladly served on the Culver Academies Parents Association, Eastern Illinois University’s Parents Board of Directors, Parent’s Committee for the Indiana University’s Women’s Golf Team, Kankakee YMCA Swim Team Parents Club, and president of West Junior High School PTA. An avid golfer, Fred was an active member of the Kankakee Elks Country Club and the Kankakee Country Club, where he enjoyed three holes-in-one on the 10th hole. He was passionate and excited about a lot of things, his wife and family, his friends, his faith, his work, and his love for the game of golf, but his enthusiasm for life was contagious and his sincere compassion for friends and family was heartfelt. Fred was a devout Catholic and a faithful member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee. Fred is survived by his wife, Phyllis Benoit Hendron; son, Douglas Frederick Hendron, of Kankakee, daughter, Sally Rae Hendron, of Chicago, son, Scott Frederick Hendron, of Ormond Beach, Fla., and son, Michael Frederick Hendron, of Kankakee; two loving sisters, Therese Hendron Kontos and her husband, Klee, of New York, N.Y., and Lois Hendron Sone and her husband, Ron, of Flossmoor. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Jim and Joe Hendron; and sister, Patricia Hendron Deemer. A wake service in honor of Fred’s life will be held at the Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais, with visitation from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kankakee. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

Frederick A. Hendron

May 30, 1926 - April 17, 2013