Paul Vernon Henrikson

HENRIKSON, MR. PAUL VERNON Muskegon Paul V. Henrikson, age 69, died Wednesday, October 30, 2002. He was born in Newaygo, MI on September 8, 1933 to Chester & Hattie Wilson Henrikson & was legally adopted in 1976 by Roy Morris, his stepfather since Paul was 12. He & his brothers were the first adult adoptions in Osceola County, MI. Paul graduated from Reed City High School in 1951. He served 3 years in the U.S. Marine Corps including a tour of duty in Korea. Paul attended Michigan State University earning a B.S. degree in Police Administration in 1959. He later returned to MSU to earn his Masters Degree in Social Work in 1967. On February 12, 1966 he married the former Ruth Ann Duffing in Reed City, MI. Paul went to work for the Michigan Department of Social Services first as a child welfare worker in Lake, Osceola & Mason Counties, then as a Supervisor in Battle Creek, coming to Muskegon in 1968 where he held several administrative positions until he retired in 1991 after serving as Director of the Muskegon County Department of Social Services for 15 years. Paul was always ready to remind people he was of Swedish decent, a Lutheran by faith & a conservative independent politically. He regretted not learning to milk a cow by hand, to ice skate backwards & spending his money on cigarettes instead of voice lessons. After his retirement, his main hobby was singing Barbershop Music in the Muskegon Chapter Chorus. He also had sung in the Barbershop Quartet & The Rising Tide. He especially enjoyed singing Valentines each year he was active. Paul never forgot that he was the product of the Great Depression & WWII. He knew what it was like to be poor, to work hard & be helpful without being asked. In return, he only asked that you return the kindness to someone else. He was known for his smile, his wit & his energy. Paul believed God put him on this earth to help others. He believed God has kept his promise & forgave him his sins. His soul is now with Jesus awaiting the resurrection & eternal life. SURVIVORS Wife, Ruth; 3 sons, Richard Henrikson of Houston, TX, Graydon Shelly Henrikson of FL & Thomas Amy Henrikson of Muskegon, MI; his daughter, Katrina Brown of NC; 5 grandchildren, Loren & Marlin Brown; Kathleen, Margaret & Alexander Henrikson; a brother, Robert Shirley Henrikson of VA & mother-in -law, Dorothy Duffing of Baldwin, MI. SERVICE Saturday, November 2, 2002, 11:00 am at Clock Chapel with Rev. Michael T. Bush officiating. Interment at Webber Township Cemetery. VISITATION Friday, 4-7 pm at Clock Funeral Home . Clock - Muskegon www.clockfuneralhome.com