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Mason Kenneth Hendrickson

October 7, 1996 - September 21, 2016
Woodstock, IL

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Visitation

Monday, September 26, 2016
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Service

Tuesday, September 27, 2016
11:00 AM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
PO Box 4072
Pittsfield, MA 01202
(888) 557-7177
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Although he was taken from his loved ones much too soon, Mason Hendrickson made his mark on the world. His stature and personality were larger than life. Mason’s compassionate spirit and unending generosity were hard to ignore, and his friendly smile was something that drew others to him. His sense of humor and passion for life was contagious. He was a humble young man who lived to serve others. Life will never be the same without Mason here, but he leaves behind a legacy that will never fade away.

The fall of 1996 was a time of great anticipation in the lives of Kenneth Hendrickson and Jennifer Austad as they eagerly awaited the birth of their new baby boy. On October 7th, Mason Kenneth drew his first breath. Born at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, he was the third of four children as he was raised alongside his two older sisters, Amber and Brittany, and his younger sister, Gabby. The only boy in his family, Mason wanted everyone to know he was a boy and refused to answer to anything besides “Guy.” Despite having three sisters, he was all boy.

In many ways Mason was a typical young boy. He was a great brother at a young age, and he continued to be that way for the rest of his life. Mason was into dinosaurs, knights, and army men. He wasn’t a picky eater, except when it came to pasta and mushrooms, and he was obsessed with tomatoes and ate them all the time. Mason wasn't afraid of bizarre foods and loved discovering new foods and grossing his family out with his finds. He knew his way around the kitchen, too, and he liked to create inventive meals and compete in cook-offs with his family. He attended local schools and graduated from Rincon High School in Tucson, Arizona, in 2014.

Mason was a young man with many interests. He was an avid gamer whose favorite games were World of Warcraft, League of Legends, and Uncharted. Mason could often be found playing video games with his friends. He was also a movie buff and could pull out a movie quote at the drop of a hat and loved settling in for a movie marathon. Some of his favorites were Lord of the Rings, Monty Python, District 9, and Quentin Tarantino and Mel Brooks movies. When it came to television shows, Mason liked Game of Thrones and binge watching Community.

All who knew Mason would agree he was truly extraordinary. He made it his life’s mission to lift up everyone else around him. Even when he was fighting for his life, he maintained a positive outlook no matter what. Mason loved joking around. He teased those he loved and that’s how they knew he cared about them. He had the most sarcastic, witty, and dry sense of humor, and he was more than willing to share a laugh at his expense. When with his family, he loved a good family banter. Those who only knew Mason in passing probably thought him to be reserved in nature. However, those who spent more than five minutes with him, knew he wasn’t afraid to share his opinions or become the comedian of the hour. He always had a heart for others and was concerned about social issues, especially those that would benefit others. Mason taught others the true meaning of patience and service, and that we should never take life too seriously.

Affectionately called the Big Friendly Giant (B.F.G.) by his sisters, to know Mason Hendrickson was to love him. His heart was just as big as they come. His personality was warm, inviting, and genuine, which drew others near. He was approachable and kindhearted. Mason was positive throughout the peaks and valleys of his life, and his strength was unending. He had a gentle and compassionate touch, and his interest in others was entirely genuine. Deeply loved, Mason will be forever missed.

Mason Kenneth Hendrickson, of Woodstock IL, formerly of Kalamazoo, passed away on September 21, 2016. Mason is survived by his loving parents, Ken and Jennifer Hendrickson and Jennifer and Greg Snow, as well as his three sisters, Amber, Brittany, and Gabby, who knew him to be the world’s best brother. He is also survived by his stepbrother and stepsister Chad and Alicia Snow and his grandparents, Larry and Candy Austad, Jerry and Maribeth Hendrickson, and Charlotte Hendrickson, in addition to several aunts, uncles, and cousins. There will be a viewing on Monday from 6-8 p.m. and a memorial service on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive; Kalamazoo, MI (269) 375-2900, where family and friends will gather to celebrate Mason’s life. Please visit Mason’s personal web page at www.BetzlerFuneralHome.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo of him and sign his online guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

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