James Paul Hedrick, 43, of Madison died at the Hospice Center in Fitchburg, Wis., on Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010.
Jim was born May 8, 1967, to Carolette (Young) and Jerome “Paul” Hedrick in Sparta. Jim was raised on the family farm outside Norwalk and graduated from Brookwood High School in 1985. Jim received his degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For 17 years, he had been employed by the UW-Madison Space, Science and Engineering Center, where he designed and maintained lidar instrumentation used for atmospheric research.
On Nov. 4, 2000, Jim was united in holy matrimony to Susan Kreager. Jim will be remembered as a gentle and patient man with a unique, dry wit. He was a devoted father whose love of family took him all of the way to Russia to expand his clan. Jim was a loyal husband and friend to Sue, and they would have celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary Nov. 4. He was a faithful son and brother who cherished his family with his whole heart.
Jim is survived by his wife, Susan of Madison; three children, Lexie, Alla and Luci; his brother, Mike (Amy) Hedrick of Norwalk; his parents, Jerome “Paul” and Carolette of Sparta; three sisters, Theresa (Eric) Theisen of Black River Falls, Wis., Julie (Mark) Degner of Chicago and Chris (Jason) Logterman of Sauk Prairie, Wis.; his nieces and nephews, Andrea, Katie, Sam and Anthony Hedrick, Scott Path, Peyton, Brady and Delaney Theisen, and Nathan and Sydney Degner, and Sam and Ella Logterman; many aunts and uncles; his mother- and father-in law, Charles and Carol Kreager of Wausau; along with many sisters- and brothers-in-law, wonderful cousins and dear friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Frances Hedrick and Pershing and Doris Young.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Cress Funeral Home, 3325 E. Washington St., Madison. Visitation will be from 1–4 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be at a later date at St. John the Baptist Church Cemetery, Norwalk. The Torkelson Page-Smith Funeral Home of Sparta is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Camp Kesem-Wisconsin, a camp for children whose families have been affected by cancer (www.campkesem.org).
Online condolences may be offered at www.torkelsonfuneralhome.com.
