Billionaire Hendricks dies after fall
Podcast Episode
Forward Janesville President John Beckord talks to WCLO's Stan Stricker about the life of Ken Hendricks.
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Ken Hendricks stands in the former Fairbanks Morse Building in Beloit in this file photo from 2005.
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Ken Hendricks was all smiles at a ground breaking ceremony along the Beloit Riverfront in December of 2005.
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Ken Hendricks gives a powerpoint presentation to an Upper Iowa University business class at Blackhawk Tech in 2005.
Ken Hendricks, the Janesville native who rose from roofer's son to roofing-company billionaire, died this morning from injuries suffered in a fall at his Afton home Thursday night.
Hendricks, 66, apparently was checking on construction work at the home when he fell shortly after 10 p.m. Emergency crews were dispatched to his house in the 4000 block of Eau Claire Road at 10:18 p.m.
According to Rock County Sheriff's Department reports:
Diane Hendricks, Ken's wife, told responders that they had returned home about 10 minutes before the accident from a business party. Ken walked out the house door onto the floor above a new garage under construction to see how much work had been completed.
Authorities said the floor above the garage was covered with blue tarps held in place by two-by-four boards nailed down to the tarp in various places.
Diane went back to their vehicle to carry bags into the house. She couldn't find Ken in the house and began yelling for him. She walked out onto the new floor above the garage but didn't find him and went outside to look for him.
Diane found her husband lying on the concrete garage floor unconscious.
Diane called 911 and started CPR until deputies arrived at 10:25 p.m.
Town of Beloit EMS and city of Beloit paramedics responded, and Beloit paramedics at 10:48 p.m. transported Hendricks to Beloit Memorial Hospital. He eventually was transferred to Rockford Memorial Hospital, where he died at 4:48 a.m., Winnebago County (Ill.) Coroner Sue Fiduccia said.
An autopsy will be conducted today, she said.
Hendricks was chairman and chief executive officer of ABC Supply in Beloit, the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and siding materials, tools and supplies in the United States.
Earlier this year, Forbes pegged his net worth at $3.5 billion, a figure Hendricks often scoffed at, saying net worth was something that only existed on paper.
While Hendricks had risen to the top of the business world, he was deeply grounded in the scrappy lessons he learned while growing up in a small house on Janesville's west side. He roofed houses side-by-side with his father, forming an "underdog" team that Hendricks said was often shunned by the "country club community."
In 1982, Hendricks turned his vision for a dependable national distribution network into a reality: ABC Supply Co., which has grown monumentally with the help of his wife and partner, Diane, and seven children, most of whom are involved in businesses controlled by the Hendrickses.
Along the way, Hendricks has been responsible for hundreds of economic development projects that have improved the lives of thousands of people in southern Wisconsin and around the country.
While some people watched Hendricks buy up and develop Rock County's vacant parcels like properties in a Monopoly game, he said his mission was anything but a game.
"I dropped out of school in the 11th grade, and I look in the mirror and say, ‘My god, how many people out there are like me?" he said in a 2005 interview with the Gazette. "What a great country this would be if we could replace Wal-Mart with companies like ABC.'"
While that may seem egotistical to some, Hendricks said his ego was always in check.
"All the people here are my friends," he said of his co-workers in 2005. "I don't feel that I'm any better than anybody who works here. And who the hell am I? I dropped out of school in 11th grade, a roofer's kid. What gives me the right? There's nothing elitist about me."
Those who knew or worked with Hendricks agreed when interviewed this morning.
"The whole area—the state of Wisconsin—lost a visionary business leader, someone whose heart was firmly planted in southern Wisconsin," said John Beckord, president of Forward Janesville, where Hendricks served on the board of directors.
"He had this remarkable commitment to help people who wanted to help themselves bootstrap their way up."
Steve Sheiffer, Janesville's city manager, called Hendricks "a great guy; one of the nicest people I've ever known.
"That's how he treated everyone," Sheiffer said. " I feel terrible for Diane and his family."
Beloit City Manager Larry Arft struggled to describe the loss to the city of Beloit from Hendricks' death.
"Right now, everybody's still in shock," Arft said. "... Ken leaves a tremendous legacy, and it's certainly going to be felt throughout this region and beyond.
"In addition to his family and friends, the entire city of Beloit will be in mourning over the loss of one of its leading citizens," Arft said. "Ken has a tremendous legacy that he has built in Beloit, not only his personal business enterprises but his support for the city, the college and the many nonprofit organizations here in Beloit and the tremendous support he and Diane had for the arts."
Arft also mentioned the Hendrickses' ABC Supply, headquartered in Beloit: "We have a lot of confidence in the family members and the management cadre at the company. I'm sure it will work itself out over time."
ABC officials were not commenting this morning on the their leader's death. A company attorney was flying to Beloit to draft a statement that was to be released later today.
Employees and acquaintances contacted this morning were shocked.
"Ken had to be one of the most uniquely incredible individuals I've ever met," said Jim Fitzgerald of Janesville, who had become a friend of Hendricks over the years and worked with him a couple of years ago on a proposal to move the Rock County 4-H Fairgrounds to a spot between Janesville and Beloit.
"He could look into a situation and see something so much different than you or I."
Fitzgerald noted the irony in Hendricks' death.
"He built his life and empire on roofing and construction, and look what happened," he said.
Business partner Roger Frank had known Hendricks so long he couldn't remember how they first met.
"It's just going to be a heck of a loss," he said. "My family knew him. Everyone liked him real well."
Frank received a call with the news of Hendricks' death as he was driving past Hendricks' home this morning.
"Ken was a good business man," Frank said. "There's just no question about it. But he was fair."
The business friends had taken family vacations together, and Frank had waved to Hendricks when their vehicles passed near his home earlier this week.
"He was one of those kind of guys that if somebody was the underdog, and he thought that they were OK, he would help them out," Frank said. "That's the way he was."
Sally McGovern, executive director of the Beloit Janesville Symphony, was another in Hendricks' long line of friends.
"I feel like there's a huge Ken-shaped hole in the world," she said through tears.
Ken Hendricks timeline
The rags-to-riches story of Ken Hendricks' life will take a book to fully document. Here are a few of the milestones in the entrepreneur-philanthropist's life:
Early years: He starts to learn about the building trades with his father, a Janesville roofing contractor. He drops out of high school in 11th grade and marries his girlfriend. He founds his own roofing companies, but after 17 years he gives his companies to his employees. He marries his second wife, Diane, in 1975.
1982—During the economic slowdown of 1982, Ken and Diane take a risk and acquire three supply centers from Bird & Sons. They found American Builders and Contractors Supply. Hendricks' idea was that builders should be treated better by suppliers than the way he often was treated.
1987—ABC Supply has 50 stores. Ken Hendricks is named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
1992—ABC Supply celebrates its 10th anniversary and is the 12th-largest privately held company in Wisconsin, with 94 stores.
1997—ABC Supply is No. 321 on Forbes magazine's list of America's Largest Private Companies, with 205 stores.
1998—ABC Supply reaches $1 billion in sales.
2002—Hendricks' real estate company buys Arrow Park, the former Parker Pen plant in Janesville. He turns the building into a home for growing businesses.
2003—Ken and Diane Hendricks donate $100,000 to the Janesville Performing Arts Center project. It's one of countless contributions to a wide variety of causes over the years, including the Hendrickses' role in revitalizing Beloit's downtown.
2004—ABC Supply reaches $2 billion in sales. Hendricks Land Development buys a 270-acre parcel west of Janesville for a residential subdivision that will include about 100 homes.
2005—ABC has 5,000 employees in 300 locations in 45 states, including 12 wholesale stores in Wisconsin. It accounts for 20 percent of all roofing sold in the United States. Hendricks' five-year plan is for ABC to have 10,000 employees, 500 wholesale stores and $5 billion in sales, which would represent 35 percent of the nation's roofing market.
2006—ABC Supply moves up to No. 117 on Forbes magazine's list of America's Largest Private Companies. Inc. magazine names Ken Hendricks its Entrepreneur of the Year. ABC reaches nearly $3 billion in sales and averages a new store every one to two weeks. Hendricks works on his latest project to improve the education of local students. He flies the Beloit School Board to Pennsylvania to see a regional technical school that he hopes can become a model for Rock County school districts.
2007—ABC Supply receives the Gallup Great Workplace Award, one of only 12 companies in the world to be so honored. Hendricks has this to say about being named one of the globe's top-performing companies: "It's all about treating people right and showing respect."
ABC Supply has over 350 centers in 45 states and is one of the nation's largest wholesale distributors of exterior building products.
Forbes puts Hendricks at No. 107 on its list of the wealthiest 400 Americans, with an estimated net worth of $2.6 billion.
Hendricks Holding Co. announces it will build a $34 million wind turbine tower factory in Keokuk, Iowa, and hire 350 people. It's just one more of a whirlwind of business deals Hendricks initiated over the years, often buying struggling companies and putting them back on their feet, or buying unused buildings and finding profitable uses for them.
Compiled by Frank Schultz
Sources: ABC Supply Web site, Janesville Gazette files
Apr 8, 2008 at 4:04 p.m.
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its been almost 4 months since mr. hendricks untimely passing,i just wanted the family to know he is still thought of,and, is not forgotten by all. my heart is still sad for your great loss.
Jan 15, 2008 at 5:54 p.m.
Dec 27, 2007 at 12:19 p.m.
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i really think it is sad that people have to bring in their religious believes and force them on people especially at a time like this. there is a time and place for everything
Dec 26, 2007 at 8:54 p.m.
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For those who have heard of the idea of "six degrees of separation," you know that we are never far from being connected to those we don't really know. Most of us do not have to even make many connections beyond a friend or two to "know someone who knows someone" who knew Ken Hendricks, and they all seem to genuinely believe that he was a genuine, down to earth person. I feel confident that not only did Ken know the wonderful people who are our family and friends, but he surrounded himself with wise and caring people who will not miss a beat in following through on Ken's plans. He could have moved his operation headquarters to some warm, luxurious place (considering this time of year!), yet he stayed where his roots were. He didn't even move to a nearby metropolitan area which I think shows how committed he was to the continued improvement for Rock County. We are now hearing such great stories of his kindness and generosity, yet take a minute and think of how many we'll never hear about, because he did not help people for the recognition. Ken Hendricks should be an inspiration to us all. We will not become billionaires, or even millionaires, but his life, cut far too short, was not only about business sense, but more importantly about just helping those who need it. God Bless the Hendricks family, the employees, and may all who are connected within those six degrees of separation to Ken follow in his footsteps in helping where we can with what we can.
Dec 26, 2007 at 6:29 p.m.
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zebra62 where do you go to church? I think we all want to know? It is not our right to judge and from what I have seen here Mr. Hendricks had more love and compassion in his heart than you will probally ever know. Get over yourself and get a life. Ken was a good, compassionate, and caring man how dare you judge what you don't know shame on you.
Dec 26, 2007 at 11:51 a.m.
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Zebra62...um, you're not automatically a saint when you go to heaven. That is a Catholic statement, and there are many steps that have to be taken. So fold up your robes. Whether Mr. Hendricks was religious or not is none of your business. Worry about you and your own family.
Turtles4me21, you should consider counselling to cope with the bitterness of your life, and learn to take responsibility for your own life, and not blame others for the position you're in.
Drakkenrahl? Please. He was world famous, and did a lot for our area. I'm sure the family appreciates your concern through this difficult time.
Dec 26, 2007 at 10:03 a.m.
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"Do what you can, where you are, with what you have!" - Teddy Roosevelt
Mr. Hendricks more than exemplified this. We have read all the stories of how he helped so many, yet I'm sure there are hundreds more untold. All this "good" done quietly, without recognition. My thoughts & prayers are with the Hendricks family.
Dec 25, 2007 at 8:31 p.m.
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To Stumpy: "Prostelitizing" is when someone tries to take someone else from another church, and is quite pointless. But to the point, if my comments can keep just 1 person out of Hell, then those comments were worth it.
To Momof5: A person or preacher truly concerned with where individuals are going to spend eternity is sometimes not very tactful.
Society has become so accustomed to the "Joel Osteen Show" and listening to "The Gospel According to Oprah" that most don't know right from wrong. I have relatives in my own family that are so engrossed into what they can amass in this life that they don't even care if Heaven or Hell exists. I would encourage you to read Luke 12:19-21.
Dec 24, 2007 at 4:54 p.m.
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I knew Ken...He was for God and Country. Maybe we hear what we want to hear. At every sales meeting we started the banquet with a prayer and ended with God Bless the USA. Ken is probably the greatest man I knew...Wish everyone had the chances I received from him.
Dec 24, 2007 at 10:25 a.m.
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zebra62,
Shame on you, as stumpy said! There is a time and place for everything; perhaps you missed that in your preacher's sermon on Sunday! Obvious the Lord did not bless you with tact. Happy Holidays and God Bless Hendricks family!
Dec 24, 2007 at 9:33 a.m.
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I'm not one for posting messages, but I would like to share this story of the Henricks family. Someone close to me was paralyzed a few years ago in an accident. The individual who was injured was friends with one of the Henricks children. Within 6 weeks after the accident a benefit was organized by his daughter, Konya and wife Diane. (They are very busy people and took this on)Ken and his family opened up their home ("The Pitts") and created an event that raised money to help the person injured not have to worry about how he would afford to send his kids to daycare; let alone all the bills that insurance did not cover. They did not want any recognition for doing this; it seemed like the most natural thing for that family to do is to give back to others. Diane also organzied a cookbook sale and all the proceeds went to his family as well. It's one thing to give money to help someone, but they were hands on! I will not forget their generosity or how they touched my life. Thank you
Dec 24, 2007 at 8:54 a.m.
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You know, there is a time and a place for prostelitizing. An homage to a great man who died far before his work was done here on earth is neither the time nor the place.
Shame on you, Zebra62. The death of someone many held dear is not your personal forum for warning others about the importance of accepting Jesus. How tacky and improper.
Dec 23, 2007 at 1:48 p.m.
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The preacher in church this morning spoke about Mr. Hendricks in his sermon. The preacher said that in all that has been said about him in the news, never once did it mention that he had accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. Sad if that be true. In an interview he attributed his success to luck and hard work. If God did not give him the breath to breathe, he couldnot have got out of bed in the morning. Check out Luke 12:16-21 in the Holy Bible.
Also to IttyBitty, when people die, if they go to heaven, they don't become an angel. They become a saint. And they go to Heaven by accepting Jesus as their Savior, not by what their works.
Dec 23, 2007 at 10:01 a.m.
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I only met Ken one time at the Brickyard Indy race, however at the time, I knew was standing near a man of greatness. As an employee of ABC Supply I am saddened deeply by his loss. He always gave us the "confidence" that no matter what happens in the business world, "Ken" is there watching over us. My thoughts and prayers go out with deepest sympathy to the Hendricks family, but as this life goes on we can all be certain that Ken is now there, on our sides to watch over our spirits now as well. We couldn't ask for a better friend on our side than him......Joshua #32
Dec 23, 2007 at 9:40 a.m.
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Drakkenrahl, When I pass away I am not deserving of the front page nor would I expect to be. I didn't know this man, I didn't work for him, I didn't know his family,yet I knew his name. I certainly may have touched the lives of people, but I know that I definately did NOT touch even a small fraction of the lives he touched. I would certainly NOT be getting blogs from out of state as he is. I knew what things he did for the community (and most likely was a recipient of some community effort of his) and I never once heard an ill word spoken of him. He was a great man from what I understand and his family was blessed to have him for the time they did. God Bless you Hendricks family, may he rest in peace.
Dec 22, 2007 at 5:05 p.m.
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I didn't really know Ken but I was lucky enough to have had the chance to meet him during a tour of ABC. I was so impressed by the way he ran ABC along with his generosity in our community that I have returned to college with the hope of one day being able to work for such a wonderful man. I am deeply saddened mostly for his wife and children what a terrible loss he had many more years to offer everyone in our community. His legacy will live on and what a legacy he made. Ken god bless you and thank you for being such a inspration to so many people.
Dec 22, 2007 at 11:48 a.m.
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What a terrible loss to the community. He was the only wealthy man in the community by real world standards. He also was the only individual who had enough forward thinking and capital to help further develop the Janesville/Beloit community. The loss of him will definately slow down the progress of this community. His extreme generosity will greatly be missed. Most importantly, the timing of this accident is extremely unfortunate and I hope God blesses his family during these hard times around the holidays.
Dec 22, 2007 at 9:38 a.m.
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May God bless Ken's Family. I worked for Ken in the early years (Blackhawk Roofing And Supply). Ken was a true and compassionate friend whom we will miss greatly.
Ed and Nancy Spenske
Dec 22, 2007 at 8:44 a.m.
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Ken is the guy that saved my family. He gave my dad a job, and made it so I had a good life. I never got to talk to him for more than a second. Actually, the longest I talked to him was when I was sitting on his lap at age 10, thinking he was Santa. He always gave the employee kids presents and dressed up. Such a nice guy. Anyone who says otherwise just never had the privelege of meeting the guy.
Dec 21, 2007 at 10:35 p.m.
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Ken was the most down to earth person I ever met. Ken was generous and giving in every aspect of his everyday walk of life. Diane and family you are in everyone's prayers and we wish you the best in this time of sadness.
Dec 21, 2007 at 10:27 p.m.
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BEloit Losses a FRIEND! Today the City of Beloit lost a great Friend and Supporter. His insight will be greatly missed by the Rock River Valley Region. Just the other during during the snow i drove down Liberty Ave. Looking across the RIVER to The ABC complex is a bealutiful sight and all the things He Did over there. REst in Peace Our Friend till we meet again.
Dec 21, 2007 at 9:26 p.m.
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we all will miss you.until to we meet again in gods house we pray for you
Dec 21, 2007 at 9:21 p.m.
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Sympathies to the entire Hendricks family and extended family at ABC. Drakkenrahl your Bible-ripping 17-year old mentality is rearing its ugly head again.
Dec 21, 2007 at 8:44 p.m.
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Ken Hendricks was one of the most down to earth, kind and caring men I have ever met. He always made time for the "underdog" and our community has been so blessed to have Ken and Diane here. They were always doing things for our community, and the poor were never looked at any different than a billionaire. My heart aches for Diane and the entire family, I too feel an emptiness. He did so many good things for people he didn't even know and took great joy in making Beloit a better city. I bow my head in prayer in his memory and sadness for for his family, especially this time of year. Diane...may God Bless you and your family and let this be one of those times as in Footprints, this is when God carried you through such a difficult time. As for "turtles4me21" and "drakkenrahl", or anyone else that may have any nasty remarks, you should be ashamed to ever write such terrible things about anyone who has just lost their life, or even open your mouth in public!! We all have a right to express our opinion, but those comments were in very poor taste, you obviously need The Lord in your life!!
Dec 21, 2007 at 7:41 p.m.
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My sympathies go out to the family-it is always difficult to lose someone. I do need to say I worked for Ken, when he ran International Roofing-these were not good times and employees at that time were always on the back burner-honesty (to put it mildly) was rare if ever in exsitence-He may have accomplished alot and made billions, but I at one time was someone, one of many, stepped on by him on his road to acheive those goals-I find it difficult to celebrate his accomplishments, because I know how he made it on those lists, I do not respect those tactics of any business person or other human being.
Dec 21, 2007 at 7:12 p.m.
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This was worthy of a front page?Go to the obits
and tell the familys of those that died today
the reason that they didnt get this treatment.
Im sure you might find that some of them in there life did WAY more for others than just
amass wealth.
Dec 21, 2007 at 5:12 p.m.
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As an ABC employee, I can say that Ken was truly a great human being. He was a visionary leader that cared for people. He really shows the corporate world that big companies CAN treat people honestly, with dignity and respect and still remain profitable. His goal was for ABC to become the best company in the nation to work for and I can say that it really is!!! We all learned from Ken and we will continue to learn from the life he lived. He truly leaves a great legacy that will live on and on. I'm just proud to have been part of it. My thoughts will be with his immediate family as well as the families that his life has touched throughout the years. Ken will be sorely missed. God Bless!
-Proud ABC Manager
Dec 21, 2007 at 4:56 p.m.
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Ken had plans to help revitalize Keokuk's economy by building a wind tower factory here.Its to early to tell what will happen to his plans.His faith in our community will always be noted,no matter what happens to his plans for Keokuk.Ken was a great man who loved to help people,who could ask for more from a man?I hope his family will accept our deepest condolences for their tragic loss.
Mike & Pam Byrne
Keokuk,Iowa
Dec 21, 2007 at 4:51 p.m.
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Whet a horrible loss for mankind...i prayed for the family. mostly Diane.i met Ken 2 times and was impressed with him being real.i called him once to thank him for a bonus.i told him i baught a quad with it. after we talked for a few minutes he asked me "whats a quad?"HA HA i told him it was an off road machine.he said "be careful."what can i say?? he was a hero to anyone with a dream! daryl at ABC southfield #108
Dec 21, 2007 at 4:41 p.m.
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Hendricks knew what everyone should live by in that people came first and treated them that way. What an amazing kind of guy. He will be missed by his workers and the community big time!
Dec 21, 2007 at 4:40 p.m.
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How very sad that something could happen to such a wonderful person. My heart goes out to the family. He will certainly never be forgotten!! God bless you all!
Dec 21, 2007 at 4:36 p.m.
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I am a former ABC Supply employee living in Denver. I have made many a trip to ABC's headquarters in Beliot and was fortunate to have met Ken and his family. I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of Ken's death. He was truly a remarkable man who will be greatly missed.
Dec 21, 2007 at 4:19 p.m.
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I never met Mr. Hendricks, but I know many people who did and they never had a bad word to say about him. I played baseball on the fields that backed up to his property for over 10 years. He never complained once of the ping of the bats all summer long, instead he donated the money to put up outfield fences for each of the fields. It truly meant a lot to all of the kids who played there! It's because of people like him that these places still exist! Thank you again! From everyone who ever played there, our thoughts and prayers go out to the Hendricks family!
Dec 21, 2007 at 3:57 p.m.
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God Bless Diane, Konya, Kara and the rest of your family. What a tragic thing especially before the Holidays. The world will be missing a truely great man! I am truely sorry for your loss. My prayers and thoughts will be with you and yours!!!
Dec 21, 2007 at 3:51 p.m.
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There is a new a angel in heaven today...His name is Ken Hendricks...
Dec 21, 2007 at 3:37 p.m.
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I didn't know Mr. Henricks but I know people that worked for him and they always had good things to say about him and his wife Diane, I was shocked when a friend called me this morn. from ABC to tell me the news I just can't believe it. My prayers go out to his wife Diane and the family. D.D.
Dec 21, 2007 at 3:27 p.m.
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I was deeply shocked first, then saddened upon hearing of Ken's passing. My deepest condolences to Diane and Ken's family. Also, to the entire ABC family of employees that Ken cared so much about. Ken and I go back along way,growing up together on the west side of Janesville. I think I first meet Ken in church,(Mt.Calvery), when it was on washington street. Ken's parents, (Joe and Ann) became good friends of my parents, going on trips and playing cards together. As we grew older and went our separate ways, we sort of lost track each other. Until a couple of years ago, I ran into him at Gander Mountain,(he was looking for a pair of pants that zip off to shorts for a safari he was taking a group of his employees on). We talked awhile and brought up some of the old times we had together. The thing about Ken was you could'nt tell if he was a billionaire or a street person, he was just so down to earth guy. I like to think Ken was a hands on type of guy working right along side the next guy. I will always remember Ken as a friend from way back. He will be missed dearly by the communities he served. gblum1@tampabay.rr.com
Dec 21, 2007 at 3:04 p.m.
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Ken was proving to the nation that corporations can take care of their employees and their community all the while being extremely profitable. We will never know the extent of loss due to loosing this visionary man too soon.
I'm totally bummed out! Ken was a great man and it was an honor to have met him.
Dec 21, 2007 at 2:19 p.m.
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My family is pretty well acquainted with the Hendricks family. My mother is one of Ken and Diane's administrative assistance and works with them on a daily basis, not to mention being a shoulder to cry on and a friend they could always trust.
I was awaken this morning to my mother balling her eyes out that Ken had an accident and lost his life. I let my mom cry on my shoulder and I couldn't help but cry myself.
As long as I've ever known Ken, he has been a great person and treated everyone with the same amount of respect, all as equals. He never put himself on a pedestal, and he always did what he could to make everyone as successful as they could be. Personally, thanks to Ken and Diane, I've been successful in my own career field as they gave me an opportunity fresh out of high school with ABC Supply to get started. I just can't thank them enough.
Honestly, I still just can't get it through my head that Ken is gone. I just spent time at ABC's christmas party just weeks ago talking with him, as a friend. My mom also noted how cheerful he was yesterday in the office, how high of spirits he had that day.
Some of you may have seen the articles explaining how Ken passed. If it were up to Ken, he would have lived to be 100. Unfortunately, accidents happen and you can never see them coming. One minute your there, next minute your not.
After seeing all this happen this morning, it really struck me that we all really need to realize the important things in our life. I couldn't help but pick Paisley up and hold on to her as much as I could this morning. Family and friends are what make all of us what we are, and we need to treat them with the utmost respect.
Unfortunately, these things just happen and we all move on. I can definitely say that I've learned a lesson from this. You just don't know what or when anything can happen. We only get to live this life once. We need to make the best of it.
I ask that all of you keep Ken's family, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances in your thoughts and prayers. Ken has helped so many people, and now it's time to give back.
Dec 21, 2007 at 2:15 p.m.
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i had the opportunity to meet ken and diane a couple of times through the years. ken was a great guy that would pretty much do whatever it took to get something done. he is truly going to be missed by everyone. especially his wife, kids and grandkids who have gone to school with my kids for years. what a wonderful bunch they are. after all the hard work that ken has done for his family and the communities that he has touched throughout the years, he can now rest peacefully knowing that he has done a tremendous amount for everyone.
Dec 21, 2007 at 1:42 p.m.
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I did not know Ken Hendricks, but I feel such a loss for his passing. My heart and prayers go out to his wife, children and grandchildren.
Dec 21, 2007 at 1:35 p.m.
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Mr. Hendricks' unexpected passing is a loss to all of us in our community and the surrounding area. I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to meet him last year. He was a humble man who gave so much to those around him. May he enjoy the rewards that he has deserved in Heaven!
Dec 21, 2007 at 1:23 p.m.
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Our hearts are saddened on this December day with the tragic news of Ken Hendricks death. Our prayers and thoughts are with Ken's beloved family, his entire ABC family and to all those who's life he touched. You are all in the hearts.
Dec 21, 2007 at 1:12 p.m.
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Just wanted to share my story about Ken Hendricks and family: Jan. 1986 there was a terrible accident. I was not able to work for well over a year. My son went to school with one of the Hendricks daughters. I received a phone call one night shortly before Xmas. This man who didn't identify himself right away was asking me what my kids wanted for Xmas. I was thinking this was a rude joke. Anyway, Ken told me who he was and what he was about, I talked with him a little more kindly. So a few days before Xmas we answered our door to find him and his wife(Diane). They brought in groceries after groceries and gifts galore for my kids. They made our dreams come true and we are forevever grateful. Every Xmas I think about this wonderful man and his family! May you rest in Peace Ken! Diane and family, so sorry for the loss of Ken. Again I will forever be grateful!!!!!!!!!!
Dec 21, 2007 at 12:50 p.m.
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I have had the honor of knowing Ken while working at ABC Supply in Beloit. I have never met a more charismatic, motivated, and caring human being. He was happiest when he was helping people grow--something that is so rare to find today. His legacy will live on through the people that were fortunate enough to be touched by him. It is just so tragic to have a shining star pulled from us so quickly. My prayers go out to Diane and the kids.....
Dec 21, 2007 at 12:15 p.m.
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I went to school with the Hendricks' girls. This is a truly sad tragedy, only compounded and made more heart-wrenching due to the time of year. Rock County will never be the same with out Ken and his goodwill spirit! God Bless Diane, Konya, Kara and the rest of the family!
Dec 21, 2007 at 11:32 a.m.
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We are all truly shocked at what happened and we are all saddened by the tragedy that happened. All our hearts and prayers go out to the Hendricks family and friends. We will all pull together to help each other get through this hard time and keep moving forward to make Ken's dreams come true.
ABC MBA #650 Phoenix AZ
Dec 21, 2007 at 11:25 a.m.
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My prayers go out to the family. Ken was an amazing man, who did wounderful things, and this is an awful tragedy. I can only hope that his love and generosity continues threw his family and friends.
Dec 21, 2007 at 11:18 a.m.
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I use to work for ABC Supply in Beloit, and he was the kindest soul. God rest your soul Ken, and my prayers are with your family.
Dec 21, 2007 at 10:59 a.m.
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God Bless Kens family, and employees at ABC. Such a sad thing to happen before the holidays but what a beautiful life he's had- I didnt know much about him or ABC til now reading the paper, and I believe Ken and Diane are truely touching and amazing! Helping so many people, and so many businesses. Im sorry for your loss.
Dec 21, 2007 at 10:53 a.m.
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HOW VERY SAD THIS IS.WE CAN ALL LEARN FROM THIS MAN. WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY THIS IS.HE AND HIS WIFE ALSO RAISED WONDERFUL DAUGHTERS.IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW THEIR NET WORTH YOU WOULD THINK THEY WERE JUST WORKING CLASS,AND THAT REALLY MAKES THE FAMILY A CLASS ACT!!!! GOD BLESS !!!
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