Paul K. Hendricks, age 59, passed away on October 5, 2026, in West Jordan, Utah, from complications due to type 1 diabetes. He will be deeply missed.
Paul was born March 29, 1967, in Denver, Colorado, to Warren and Barbara Hendricks. His family moved to Sandy, Utah, in 1977. He lived in Utah for the rest of his life, although he always considered himself a Coloradoan.
Young Paul’s nature, from early childhood until his mid-twenties, could be described as very social. He loved to be with his friends. He was very agreeable and would go to great lengths to maintain relationships. He enjoyed playing team sports like basketball, baseball, and especially football. He played football for Jordan High School for two years. He also enjoyed playing video games and participating in group fantasy role-playing games.
Paul met Patti, the love of his life, while they both worked at ShopKo in 1988. They were married in 1994 in Sandy, and they celebrated their 32nd anniversary before he passed away. They welcomed a son, Ezra, into their lives in 2008. Paul was Ezra’s stay-at-home dad. They immediately became quite close, sharing common interests and a sense of fairness and justice.
Paul earned a BS degree in Business Administration at the University of Utah in 1990. He was a dedicated worker, throwing his whole self into helping others and doing his best on every project. He worked at Fidelity Investments for several years, then at Intermountain Healthcare and R1. His coworkers appreciated the fact that they could come to him with any problem, and he was always willing to help. He was an expert troubleshooter with a very organized and logical mind.
Paul was an avid reader, especially enjoying political thrillers, science fiction, and humor. He also loved to watch movies and play video games. He often supported small artists and play-tested games before they went public. He loved to travel, especially to places like Seattle where he could be near the ocean. His happy place was always by the seaside. One of his favorite things to do, though, was to observe what his family liked, and then surprise them with personal gifts and watch their reactions. He loved to bring joy to others and make them laugh. His dry sense of humor and random jokes made him fun to be around. He always put other people’s needs and happiness before his own. He even openly supported his son by wearing LGBTQ-related shirts. He was also passionate about always helping the underdog.
Paul is survived by his wife Patti, their son Ezra, father Warren, and step-mother Gilda. He is preceded in death by his beloved grandmother Blanche, his brother Greg, his sister Elizabeth, and his mother Barbara.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, November 1, at 3:00 PM MST at Community of Grace Presbyterian Church, 2015 E Newcastle Drive, Sandy, UT 84093. The service will be livestreamed on cogpc.org if you are unable to attend in person. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association, HRC, or the Ocean Conservancy.