Donald Frederick Hinkebein Jr.

1937 - 2018

Hinkebein, Donald Frederick, Jr.,

husband of Myrna Alberico, son of Catherine and Donald, passed from this earth on January 1, 2018. He was born May 4, 1937. He was a Roman Catholic. Don was the oldest of seven and grew up in the St Agnes parish. Of the seven, Marilyn (Irv) Rueff, Jim (Sue) Hinkebein, Tom (Sally) Hinkebein, and Liz (Joey) Matz are still with us.

As a young man, his passion was sports. He was a proud member of the first Toy Boy champion in CSAA football in 1949. He also excelled on the hard wood, where he was a member of St Xavier's final 4 basketball team in 1955. Finally, he was a member of the St X golf team and eventually played at Bellarmine. As the years would pass, only family and business would elevate his handicap. But if you know Don, family and business were his true loves.

Speaking of family, it was in high school that he met the love of his life, Myrna Alberico. A real stunner, he stole her heart at the Sacred Heart Valentines dance, as they were named King and Queen.

They would eventually marry in 1959 and have four children. Cyndi (Bob) Young, Jennifer (Clay) Culotta, Chris Hinkebein, and Alex (Elizabeth) Hinkebein are still with us. He also has nine grandchildren; Tommy, Marisa, Anne Louise, Donald, John, Georgia, Eleanor, William, and Ben. He is blessed with one great grandchild, Henry.

After college, he turned down a spot at Florida State law school so he could use his vast skills to better the community as a heating and cooling contractor. By his fathers' side, they grew a family business into what is now the DFH Company. He treated his business as if it were his 5th child.

Ultimately, his final passion was the University of Louisville. With Bill O'Dea, his brother Jim and the kids in tow, Cardinal Stadium is where these men landed every fall Saturday. A real zest for fun, this crew would show up three hours before kick-off (against Murray!!) and live the dream of one day having a decent football team. Then, they would lose (to the likes of Murray!!) more often than not. Fortunately, he had basketball and we all know how good that was. Near the end of his life, with his body shutting down and his faculties being stripped, he would not have to shoulder the memory of what happened in Rupp Arena on Friday or the Taxslayer Bowl on Saturday. Some doctors would say that was what killed him.

Only the Lord knows.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Doug, his sister Judy, daughter in-law Anne and grandson Jacob.

Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Thursday at Ratterman and Sons, 3800 Bardstown Road. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church on Bardstown Road, followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a contribution to St Xavier High School in his name.