Carl "Leo" Hendricks, age 92 of Montgomery City, MO died peacefully at home, on Saturday, June 7, 2025, after a two year dance with lung cancer.

Leo was born July 16, 1932 in Buell, MO, the youngest son of Charles Lemon and Sylvia Jewell (Davis) Hendricks.  He married Joyce Marie Winter on March 25, 1956 in Bellflower, MO. and they joyously celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary this past spring.

Leo attended a one-room schoolhouse in Buell, MO and he liked to say he was "the smartest and the dumbest student in his 8th grade class", as he was the only student in his class. After graduating from Montgomery County High School, he worked for Burlington Railroad and then he served in the Korean War.  After returning home from Korea, he was an agent for several insurance companies.  In 1969 he became employed by the MO State Highway Department and retired after 21 years of service.  Upon retirement he had his own lawn service for a number of years.  He enjoyed taking good care of lawns, especially for older clients.

Leo was a past president of the Montgomery City Lions, and past president of the Fraternal Order of Eagles #1329 in Herman, MO.  He was proudly initiated into the Masonic Order on 3-11-04 and was raised to Master Mason on 5-8-04.  He was an active member in the Moolah Shrine and Mid-Mo Shrine Clubs.  He was happy to work hard to support the Shriners, whether it was making and selling brats in Herman or selling Vidalia onions as a fundraiser, for which he was "Montgomery's Vidalia Onion Man" and a top tier seller. He was a member of the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church of Montgomery City where he had previously served as a trustee.

It made his day if he could share a joke or bring a smile to most any and everyone he encountered. He was known for his big smile, big heart and a twinkle in his eye.  He never knew a stranger.  Leo had an amazing memory and great stories all his life. He told of growing up in Buell with some other "ornery" boys and often commented that they were "lucky to live through to adulthood"!

He truly enjoyed the outdoors, whether working in his yard or garden, hunting, fishing, trapping or playing golf. He went deer hunting with the bow and gun each season from the age of 15 and had some memorable trips to Colorado and Alaska for hunting. His yard and garden were his pride and joy.  He especially loved sharing his garden produce with others. After retirement he and Joyce enjoyed travels with family and friends, including trips to Europe where he summed it up as "the buildings were old and the bread was hard". He had a great sense of humor.

He dearly loved his family and they each knew it as he was always saying "I love you!".  He is survived by his "three favorite women", loving wife Joyce, two proud daughters Teresa (Jeffrey) Gentry of Hannibal MO, Carla (George) Taylor of Mt. Juliet, TN.  Also surviving are grandchildren who he loved to boast about, Elizabeth (Greg) Brunner, Nicholas (Hannah) Gentry, Benjamin Gentry, Lindsey (Dylan) Stephens, granddaughter-in-law Esther Taylor, and step-grandson Jason (Kim) Taylor.  He adored his great-grandchildren Miriam, Cecilia, Leo, Felicity, Constantine, Anna Rose and Gabriella Brunner, Lincoln Gentry, and Brenna, Noble and Uriah Taylor, step-grandchildren Austin (Makayla) Taylor and Morgan (Kenny) Gregory.   Other survivors include a sister-in-law Peggy Gardner, sister/ brother-in-laws Marilyn and Charles Grosse, sister/brother-in-laws Russell and Susie Winter, and fourteen nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter Brenda, a grandson Joshua Taylor, three brothers Duard, Dean, and Dale and one sister/brother-in-law Fern and Doug Anson, brother/sister-in-laws Clifford and Merle Winter.  All family was special and many friends were like family to him.

Visitation will be Wed. June 11 from 4-7 at Schlanker Funeral Home with a Masonic service led by Kenny Brundage at 6:45. The funeral service, led by Mike Brandenburg, will be Thurs. June 12 at 2:00 at the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church in Montgomery City, MO., with visitation from 1:30 - 2:00. Interment will follow at Sunrise Memorial Gardens, Montgomery City, MO.  Pallbearers are Jim Block, Dorsey Stotler, Mike Grosse, Wayne Andell, and Rex Haines. Honorary pallbearers are Tom Cahall, Louie Sieg, Charles Kelsey, Mike Brandenburg, and Ron Knigge.

The family thanks Gentiva Hospice for their excellent care of Leo and the family.  Memorial contributions can be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, the First United Methodist-Presbyterian Church of Montgomery City, or Sunrise Memorial Gardens.