Francis Joseph "Joe" Hegenbart

Francis Joseph “Joe” Hegenbart, Jr. passed away December 12, 2024 after a long illness. Joe was born in Iowa and raised in Sioux City by his parents F.J. “Joe” Hegenbart, Sr. and G. Gloria (Phipps) Hegenbart. He began his medical career while still in high school working as an orderly in a local nursing home. After graduating from North High School in 1975, Joe took Emergency Medical Technician training and worked ambulances in Sioux City while studying nursing at the St. Joseph School of Nursing. After receiving his RN, Joe took further training to become one of Sioux City’s first flight nurses in 1987. He made thousands of flights over the years working on the helicopters. Joe also worked in various emergency rooms around the Siouxland area. Most recently, he worked as a nurse at the Dunes Surgical Hospital. Throughout his career, Joe was known for excellent patient care and for putting his patients’ needs first. Joe loved his work, his patients and his coworkers. He believed his fellow health care workers were a family of comrades-in-arms and was always willing to teach, support and mentor.

Joe was a gentle soul who sought to help people and reduce their suffering. He enjoyed World War II history, science fiction, golf and was a dedicated gun enthusiast. For several years Joe owned the Shooter's Paradise gun shop in Sioux City where he did some business but mostly enjoyed the company and camaraderie of his fellow gun-enthusiast customers, all of whom became his friends.

Surviving Joe are his great friend Mary Chwirka; his younger brothers Fred (Elizabeth) Hegenbart of Tulsa, OK and Scott (Scott Dibble) Hegenbart of Omaha, NE; his beloved nieces Molly Hegenbart of London, UK, Maggie (Jason) McDaniel of Houston, TX and Megan (Daniel) Andrews of Olympia, WA (to whom he gave his nursing pin upon her graduation from nursing school); grandniece and grandnephew Ellie and Madden McDaniel; numerous cousins with whom he had many fond memories, and every health care worker, customer and friend he ever had. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

A celebration of life will take place Saturday, January 11, 2025, 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM at Buffalo Alice 1022 4th St, Sioux City, IA.

Joe's cremains will be interred at Grace Lutheran Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Joe's steady presence and gentle kindness will be missed by all who knew him and benefitted from his friendship. Good-bye, dear brother. Your friendship and love are already missed.