Joel S. Hebrink

Joel Scott Hebrink was born in Sioux Falls, SD on March 9, 1961, to Shirley (Muller) and Wesley Hebrink. At age 1 year old he underwent groundbreaking surgery at the University of MN for Tetralogy of Fallot which is a combination of four defects, At the age of eight, he underwent open heart surgery again for further repair of his heart. Joel attended elementary, middle, and high school in Sheldon IA. Joel graduated in Sioux Falls, SD from Washington High in 1979. Together with his former wife, Jackie Hill Dement, welcomed Anthony Neil Hebrink in 1980. Joel balanced being a father, part time student at Sioux Falls College/ University of SD while co-managing Happy Joe’s Pizza where he made lifelong friends including his future wife, Diane. In 1984 Joel became a full-time student at St. Cloud State in St Cloud, MN and achieved a Bachelor of Arts in 1987. Joel and Diane Bialas married July 11, 1987, and they moved to Omaha NE after Joel accepted a fellowship at University of NE. Joel changed directions and spent years as a Sous Chef and gained the reputation as one of the best chefs in Omaha for Café di Coppia, Jams, and the Flat Iron. After purchasing MS Windows 95, Joel taught himself how to code C, C++ and quickly progressed from voluntary help desk support to programmer. Joel was a sepsis survivor in 2014 through the miracle work of Dr. Duncan of the Children’s Hospital of NE and Dr. Tsai of NE Medicine. Joel had the attention span of a gnat when it came to hobbies and jobs except for his passion for tattoos, reading, teaching and music. Joel has at least thirty tattoos much to Diane’s chagrin. Joel could discuss philosophers Proudhon, Emma Goldman or music by Frank Zappa, Neil Young, Scratch Acid or Gang of Four. He shared a love of dark humor and sarcasm with Diane and holds a world’s record for giving backrubs to Diane. Joel was a long-term friend of Bill W. and could rely on his network for help, advice, and support 24x7. Joel is described as intelligent, inimitable, hilarious, sarcastic, a dog lover, kind, loving and the “Reverand of all things Odd.” Every day Joel would weave a Seinfeld ism into the day, and he spent every spare moment with his beloved puppies. Joel’s Boston Terrier passing broke his heart, so he traveled to Missouri in October 2024 to rescue another Boston Terrier. Most recently Joel was an adjunct professor at the University of NE- Omaha (where he achieved his Master of Science) teaching intro to Political Science. He took immense pride in achieving exceedingly high student feedback scores.

Joel is survived by his wife of 37 years, Diane, his son Tony Hebrink and beloved dog Dixie all of Omaha, step granddaughter Aysia Klein, Sioux Falls SD. His mother Shirley and step father Lawrence Groen from Sioux Center/Sioux Falls IA/SD, father In law, Lawrence Bialas, Parkston, SD, brother Leon (Mary Ann) Meridian CT, sister Keri Beth (Greg) Sample, Sergeants Bluff IA, Sisters and brothers in law MayDene (Todd) Juhnke, Lincoln NE, Tommy (Sherry) Bialas, Dimock SD, Beth (Mike) Hranicky, El Lago, TX and Mike Bialas Sioux Falls, SD. 

Joel has a special place in his heart for his nieces, Paige (Stephen) Henry, Clearwater FL,Vanessa Hebrink of Sioux Falls, Rose Hebrink, Newport, CT, Sarah Hebrink Meridian, CT, Taryn Bialas, Dimock SD, Em Bialas, Harrisburg SD, Mandy (Zach) Heidenreich, Horace, ND, Ella Hranicky, Kemah, TX, Elizabeth Sample, Sioux City, IA, Christen (Tim) Wermers, Sioux Falls, SD and nephews Evan (Steph) Juhnke and Neal Juhnke, Lincoln, NE, Ben Bialas Dimock, SD, Matt (Danielle) Bialas, Sioux Falls, SD, and Dustin Sample, Sioux City, IA.

Joel is preceded in death by his father Wesley, his mother-in-law Bernice Bialas, his paternal grandparents, Jeanette and Anthony Hebrink, maternal grandparents June and Harm Muller, his beloved Pugs, Gus-Gus, Chloe, Emma and the love of his life, Boston Terrier, Violette.

Memorial Service Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 6:00 pm, at the Pacific Street Chapel.

Visitation with the family one hour prior to the service.

A second service will be Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 1:00pm at Heritage Funeral Home in Sioux Falls, SD. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Monapants Foundation.