Joan Maxine Hebrink

Joan Maxine (Gehrke) Hebrink, age 78, passed away Thursday April 4, 2024, unexpectedly.

Joan was born November 21^st, 1945, in Willmar to Willard and Loville (Cronen) Gehrke. She grew up in Clara City and graduated from Clara City High School in 1963.

On August 18^th, 1967, she was united in marriage to Lyle Hebrink at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City. Joan worked as a beautician until she became a stay-at-home mom to their three children. She later returned to work in several different roles; distribution, customer service, self-employed drapery service and eventually retired from Jennie-O Foods as a new products research and development specialist.

Joan and Lyle spent twenty-two years in Clara City raising their family until they moved to their lake home on Norway Lake. They spent the next twenty-three years making countless memories with their children, grandchildren, and extended family. Together, they enjoyed fishing, camping, snowmobiling, and traveling. Joan was also a strong advocate for Juvenile Diabetes; fundraising and walking annually in support of her grandchildren and hoping for a cure.

When they retired, they moved to Austin to be closer to their children and grandchildren. They spent many days caring for all of them, and enjoyed endless hours of sporting events, holidays, and cookouts where Joan’s beautiful and kind spirit welcomed everyone into her home. 

Joan was exceptionally creative and turned her talents into many hobbies including sewing, quilting, baking, cooking, gardening, and canning which she shared with all who loved her. 

She is survived by her husband, Lyle Hebrink, Austin, MN; son, James (Susan) Hebrink, Austin, MN; daughters, Melissa (Kevin) Sederquest, Williston, ND, and Becky (Theodore) Hokanson, Maple Grove, MN; 15 grandchildren, Anna, Gretchen, Sophia, Seth, Tate, Elyse, Cole, Tayler, Kelsey, Abigail, Jazmin, Isabelle, Jack, Eustace, and Savannah; 10 great grandchildren, Teyah, Carson, Raine, Merryck, Kallie, Ada, Calvin, Charlie, Marlon, and awaiting Myla; one brother, Daryl (Anne) Gehrke, Alpena MI; four sisters, Patty Rothwell, Clara City, MN, Judee Vanderhei (Jim Jeschke,) Milwaukee, WI, Karen (Terry) Clouatre, Centennial, CO, and Shirley (Paul) Nolan, Phoenix, AZ; brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law, Myron (Beverly) Hebrink, Renville, MN, and Joyce (Karl) Pokorny, Plymouth, MN. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; father and mother-in-law, David and Margaret Hebrink; brother-in-law, Gordon Rothwell; nephews, Ricki Ostendorf, and Leroy Rothwell; and great niece, Ashley Hebrink.