Joel Michael Hein

Joel Michael Hein was born on July 18, 1966, in Bryan, Texas to Hugo Hein, Jr. and Dolores Evelyn Catlin Hein. He graduated from A&M Consolidated in 1984 and in 1989 from Southwestern Assemblies of God College in Waxahachie, Texas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation, Joel returned to the College Station area and traveled as an itinerate minister in Texas. He began working for the Brazos County Juvenile Services Department in the Detention Center in 1991. The next year, he moved to the case work division as a Juvenile Probation Officer in the Court and Field Unit.
He married Mary Kristof in 1995, and they resided in Bryan until they moved to Brenham where they served as the youth, college, and associate ministers at the First Assembly of God Church. Although Joel enjoyed this full-time ministry opportunity, he quickly realized that his calling was to serve youth, but in the capacity of a juvenile probation officer. He returned to Brazos County Juvenile Services in 1997 where he worked in the Intake Unit for several years before transferring to the Placement Unit where he supervised youth that were placed in facilities throughout the state to receive services that were not available in the community. In 2018, he became Deputy Director of Community Services. In these various positions, Joel served the youth of the Brazos Valley for over 32 years and formed many lasting friendships with department staff, county employees, law enforcement officers in the Brazos Valley, and staff from placement facilities throughout Texas.
Growing up, he enjoyed driving vacations across the country with his dad, mom and sister, Cherie, which included camping trips, visits to national parks, and many other sites across the United States. He often recounted all the places he was able to see and had funny stories to share about their journeys. Joel's faith played an important role in his upbringing, and he never took for granted all of the special people that shaped his character. He often expressed gratitude for Sunday School teachers, pastors, and other church members who encouraged and supported him along the way.
Joel had a great love for the outdoors. He enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, and bonding with many a friend over an evening campfire. His black Labrador Retriever, Kate, was one of his best hunting buddies, and they enjoyed many a sunrise in the duck blind. He often said the place he felt closest to God was in a tree stand where he could take in the beauty of deer grazing in the pasture, beautiful sunrises and sunsets, and all of the other creatures that might make their way across the field. He also spent time at his in-laws' ranch in Burleson County. You could often find him tending cows, shredding the pasture, fixing fence, and cutting brush. If there was ever something that needed fixing, duct tape might be involved, but on most occasions the phone came out – "There's not really anything you can't find on YouTube," he would say. Joel successfully used it to fix many a problem or just learn a new skill.
He also loved music, and you would find him singing a song and often strumming a guitar. He had a great gift of encouragement and was a strong rock to those around him who always knew they could turn to him for advice, counsel, or a listening ear.
Joel is survived by his loving wife of 30 years, Mary Hein, his parents Hugo and Dolores Hein, his sister Cherie Sivils and brother in-law Nathan, niece Katelyn Bone and husband Jason, and his great-nephew Parker Bone, great-niece Lyla Bone, and numerous family and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his nephew, Aaron Sivils.
A visitation will be held on Monday, April 7 from 5-7 p.m. at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan. A celebration of life will be held on April 8 at 10:00 a.m. at Aldersgate Church in College Station, with interment at College Station Memorial Cemetery following.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations may be made to Mike and Cheryl Frees, Joel's missionary friends in Kenya, (Jesus Frees Ministries) or SOS Ministries in Bryan, Texas (Save Our Streets Ministries).