James Victor Henrickson, Sr., a resident of Dunn, North Carolina, entered his heavenly home on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Jim was born on August 12 , 1940, as the only child of Mary Henrickson (Eshelman) and LeRoy Henrickson. He grew up first in Chicago and later in Minneapolis after the early death of his father. Jim was baptized into the Christian faith and confirmed in the Augustana Lutheran Synod. His mother, and his grandparents, Charles and Alma Henrickson, and James and Mary Eshelman, worked together to raise him and teach him about his Savior. Jim graduated from Richfield High School and enlisted in the military just one week later. He volunteered for airborne infantry and successfully completed airborne school at Fort Bragg after basic training at Fort Carson, Colorado, and advanced infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia. During his service, Jim completed cold weather training in Alaska, jungle training in Panama, and as a qualified expert with the M-1 Garand, he taught marksmanship to cadets for three months at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was proud of his military service in the 82nd Airborne Division, but he recalled the best part of his service years as meeting his future wife, Janice Rose Lee of Dunn, North Carolina. After dating, Jim and Jan eloped on June 21, 1960, and were blessed with the gift of two children, Cindy Leigh Henrickson (Hunt - Rockhoff) and James Victor Henrickson, Jr., and 60 years of married life. After military service, Jim attended Brown Institute in Minneapolis with a focus on electronics and radio. He was gifted in public speaking and enjoyed radio broadcasting before his years of work as an engineer at Control Data, Magnetic Peripherals, and Zytec. Jim loved music, playing both the guitar and organ, and was also a talented woodworker with a penchant for making clocks. His sense of humor and love for children, nature, and animals were well known to his friends and family. Above all, Jim was a devout Christian who recognized his own sin and the love of his gracious Savior. He served faithfully in congregational life providing leadership in evangelism, Sunday School, Christian day school, and as an Elder. After beginning his retirement in Bloomington, Minnesota, Jim and Jan moved back to Dunn, North Carolina to be close to family. Jim always provided for his family’s welfare both physically and spiritually and was undaunted as he faced the challenges of life. In his later years, he overcame serious injuries as a result of a fall from a ladder, and he showed the same stubborn determination to the end as he fought his brain tumor. Jim leaves behind his wife, Janice Rose Henrickson, daughter Cindy (Roger) Rockhoff of Cary, NC, and son James (Patti) Henrickson of Dallas, TX, seven grandchildren, Alex (Melissa) Hunt, Jenny Hunt, James Henrickson III, Emily (Dan) Kleist, Phil (Sydney) Henrickson, Kimberly Henrickson, Carrie Hunt, and two step-great grandchildren, Noah and Ava; half-brother Rev. Charles (Susan) Henrickson of St. Louis, MO; half-sister Karen (Edward) Pignataro of Bartlett, Illinois; sister-in-law Dianne (Bobby) Blackman of Dunn, NC; brother-in-law Waylon Lee of Fayetteville, NC; brother-in-law Dale McLamb of Dunn, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 2:00 pm at the Tree of Life Lutheran Church, 1155 Executive Circle, Cary, N.C. 27511.
