Martin William (Bill) HENDRIX

Obituary of Martin William (Bill) HENDRIX

July 23, 1937 – Edson, Alberta
March 25, 2021 – Calgary, Alberta

Bill Hendrix, beloved husband of Joanne Hendrix of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully while holding his wife’s hand on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at the age of 83 years.

Bill was born Martin William Sprela in Edson, AB, on July 23, 1937, the youngest of four children. Bill’s family lived in Hinton, AB, until 1938 when, Bill was eight months old, Bill’s father, Martin Sprela, died in a coal mining accident. Following the accident, Bill’s mother, Laurie, took the children to England (where she was originally from), spending one-and-a-half years in Watford, a suburb of London. In 1940, due to the outbreak of World War II, Laurie returned to Canada with her four children. Bill celebrated his second birthday on the ship during their return trip. Upon arriving in Alberta, Bill’s mother married Peter Hendrix and the family settled in Willow Creek, AB, (near Drumheller), and the Nichi Valley (west of Bergen, AB), eventually arriving in Calgary where he attended Grade 9 at Balmoral School.

In 1956, Bill met the love of his life, Joanne (nee Scabar), at a dance at the Glenmore Hall in Calgary. He was always happy to tell anyone who would listen that for him, “It was love at first sight!” Pointing at Joanne he told a friend at the dance: “There’s the girl I’m going to marry!” Bill and Joanne were married two years later, on April 19, 1958, in Lacombe, AB, and they would spend the next sixty-three years together.

Bill always had an entrepreneurial spirit and in 1967, after several years developing his skills, he borrowed $2000 and started his own business. After a few early variations, Ram Carpet Cleaning Services of Calgary was eventually born. Ram went on to become the largest carpet cleaning company in western Canada and was recognized as one of Calgary’s top “Consumers Choice Award” winners on multiple occasions.

In 1977, Bill purchased a Calgary cleaning product supply business, eventually expanding Fibreclean Supplies into five locations across Canada. In 1985, Bill launched Esteam Cleaning Systems, a manufacturer of Carpet Cleaning equipment and supplies that now ships throughout Canada, USA and worldwide.

Bill’s high standards, his integrity, and his ethics made him very well respected in the business community in Calgary and across Canada, and he was known to always treat people fairly.

Bill sold Ram Carpet Cleaning services in the early 2000s and officially retired, although he would remain an important board member and advisor of Fibreclean and Esteam for many years. He used his retirement to focus on spending more time with Joanne and family, which was extremely important to Bill. He was a proud husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and great uncle.

Bill loved spending time with family. Any excuse to get together - celebrations, holidays, birthdays, vacations, anniversaries, family reunions - Bill was in his element. He shared a deep love of his grandchildren, joking that, “If I knew how much fun grandchildren were going to be, I would have had them first!”

Bill also volunteered throughout his life: baseball coach, Scout Leader, on Condo board associations, Professional Industry Organizations and many more.

He will be remembered by many for his kindness, compassion and honesty; his big smile, infectious laugh and wonderful sense of humour; his firm handshake and big, solid hugs, as well as many other qualities.

Bill is survived by his wife, Joanne, and their five children, Tim Hendrix (Joanne) of Calgary, AB, Karen Hendrix of Renfrew, ON, Sandra Anonson of Calgary, AB, Cheryl Anonson (Troy) of Sherwood Park, AB, Michael Hendrix (Julie Gendron) of Winnipeg, MB; twelve grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Bill is also survived by his sister Joan Reigner of Red Deer, AB,  and sister-in-law Christine Hendrix of Calgary, AB.

Bill was predeceased by his father Martin Sprela of Hinton, AB, father Peter Hendrix of Bergen, AB, stepfather Bill Bunn of Calgary, AB, mother Laurie Bunn of Calgary, AB, brother Steven Hendrix of Courtney, BC, sister Daphne Admusson of Sundre, AB, brothers-in-law, Wally Admusson of Sundre, AB, Ken Scabar of Calgary, AB, and Tony Reigner of Red Deer, AB; mother-in-law Stella Kalawsky of Camrose, AB, and stepbrother Bill Bunn Jr. (Mary) of Caroline, AB.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Catholic Church (541 Silvergrove Drive N.W., Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Due to Covid-19 restrictions the mass will be attended by immediate family and is by invite only. Family and friends are invited to join Mr. Hendrix's service streamed live at  https://st-peters.ca/live-stream/. Interment to follow at St. Michael Catholic Community (800 – 85th Street S.W).

The family extends thanks and gratitude for the compassionate support given to Bill during his illness:

  • Cardiac Function Clinic (Foothills Medical Centre): Thank you for extending Bill’s quality of life by years!
  • Foothills Medical Centre Unit 81 (Cardiac Ward): Thank you to Dr. Robert Miller for your honesty and to all support staff for superior healthcare over the years;
  • Dulcina Hospice for providing exceptional care during the final weeks of Bill’s life.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in Bill's memory to one of the following organizations : Covenant Foundation - Dulcina Hospice - foundation@covenanthealth.ca  or to Foothills Medical Centre Cardiac Ward (Unit 81) Calgary - Cardiac Function Clinic, Foothills Medical Centre https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/fmc/Page14092.aspx, or to a charity of your choice.

In living memory of Bill Hendrix, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Crowfoot, 82 CROWFOOT CIRCLE NW, CALGARY, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.
 

 


 

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Martin William (Bill)