James E. Hebrank

1934 - 2021

James E. “Jim” Hebrank, 87, of Jeannette passed away Friday, July 9, 2021, at Redstone Highlands Community after a brave decades’ long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born in Jeannette February 6, 1934 to the late Edmund and Viola (Buck) Hebrank, but lived much of his life in Greensburg. He was a hard-working lineman, cable-splicer, and trouble-shooter for Verizon from 1955 until his retirement in 1993.  He married Barbara T. (Hess) Hebrank in 1958, who survives at home. He was a 1952 graduate of Jeannette High School and a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Jeannette. Jim was certainly one of a kind.  He delighted in the accomplishments of his family. He loved riding his red scooter, maintaining his log home, chopping wood, spending time outdoors, donating his time, throwing away “junk” even when it wasn’t, fixing things himself, running, playing games and solving puzzles, taking family beach vacations, eating breakfast, using new words, and learning.  He was quietly and humbly generous, determined, clever, and as tough as they come.  He lived simply and marched to his own drummer. His surviving family can only hope to have inherited even some of his generosity, humor, strength and common sense. He will be sorely missed. He was preceded in death by his sister, Lorena (Hebrank) Mazer and his son-in-law Doug Smith.  He is survived by his wife Barbara; his sister Carole (Hebrank) Gordon; daughters Diane (Wayne) Freeman and Donna Smith; son James “Jamie”; grandsons Jimmy Freeman, Jacob Freeman and Mitchell Smith; granddaughters Joy (Freeman) Bolden, Alison (Smith) Brown; and great-grandchildren Reese and Luke Brown. Family and friends will be received in the chapel at Redstone Highlands Community at 6 Garden Center Drive, Greensburg Saturday, August 14th, at 11:00am for a memorial service.   A celebration dinner will be announced following the service. The family suggests donations to a charity of your choice in Jim’s honor.  The John V. Graziano Funeral Home Inc., Jeannette is assisting the family with arrangements.