Reinhold Merton Hendricks

Rev. Reinhold Merton Hendricks (Mert), 86, of Bremerton WA, passed away on November 21, 2013 at Claremont East Assisted Living from heart complications, surrounded by members of his family.
Mert was born in Los Angeles on June 7, 1927 and grew up in Bisbee Arizona. He graduated from Bisbee HS in 1945. Upon graduation he entered the Navy V-5 Aviation program and continued his education at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and then went on to pre-flight school in Los Alamitos California. He was discharged in 1947 and finished his degree thru ROTC at USC, graduating with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering in 1949.
Mert met Martha Blanch Bentrup in Los Angeles and they wed on July 31st 1949. Mert and Martha were married for 64 years.
Upon graduation from USC Mert became a Naval Officer reaching the rank of Commander in the USN Civil Engineer Corp until 1972. He earned his master’s degree in Industrial Management and was awarded a Bronze Star during his tour of duty in South Vietnam.
After retireing from the Navy, he returned to school and received a Master of Divinity from Faith Evangelical Lutheran Seminary in Tacoma WA. As a Lutheran Pastor he served at Peace Lutheran Church in Bremerton WA, St Mark’s Lutheran Church in Hudson NY, and First Lutheran Church in Burns OR. After retiring from his pastoral duties in 1995, he worked for Laborers for Christ, building churches and church buildings until the late 2000's.
A memorial service will be held at 1 PM December 14 at Peace Lutheran Church, 1234 NE Riddell Rd Bremerton WA. Burial will be at a later date this spring In Bisbee Arizona at Evergreen cemetery.
Mert is survived by his wife Martha Blanche; his brothers Robert and William, his sisters Louise Johnston and Ruth Harper; his children Gene, John, and Lisa (Mapes); 8 grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.
Mert is preceded in death by his father Gustave Reinhold, his mother Winifred Annie Faragher, his brother Raymond, and his sisters, Dorothy McEntire, and Marylou Boeckmann.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to Laborers for Christ at: Lutheran Church Extension Fund, 10733 Sunset Office Drive, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63217-1020.