Arthur W. Hebrank, 84, of Park Hills, Mo. passed away April 2, 2026. He is a native of north St. Louis, raised in the Walnut Park Community. He was born March 28, 1942 in St. Louis, Mo. to his parents, the late Arthur William Hebrank and Rena McReynolds. His mother encouraged a very early fascination in the mysteries of science and taught him the value of Knowledge; his father and a great fifth-grade teacher are responsible for introducing him to the exciting world of rocks, mineral, and fossils. He graduated from Walnut Park Grade School in 1956 and Beaumont High School in 1960. Mr. Hebrank studied from 1960-67 at the Missouri School of Mines – University of Missouri at Rolla, where he earned a BS degree in Geology with a minor in Mining Engineering.
Art Hebrank worked for 26 years for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Land Survey in Rolla; first as a subsurface stratigrapher, then as a mineral resources geologist , and for nearly 18 years as that agency’s information – education specialist. He was responsible for developing all educational programs and materials, and conducting geology tours, field trips, and workshops throughout the state. Hebrank authored a guidebook on geology of the St. Louis riverfront, and co-authored several guidebooks on geology of the St. Francois Mountains. He also functioned as the Geological Survey’s mineralogist, with responsibility for the agency’s mandated mineral and rock identification service.
In 1993 Art made a major career change, accepting employment with DNR’s Division of State Parks as a Site Administrator of Mineral Mines State Historic Site, a large mining history and mineral museum in Park Hills (formerly Flat River) Missoui. Here he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the site, and with developing the remainder of the site’s planned exhibits, which will offer a comprehensive interpretation of the mining history and mineral resources of Missoui.
He had made a note in his prewritten obituary for his family and friends, that he still had the same fascination for rocks, minerals, geology, and mining that I had as a young boy growing up in St. Louis. He had thoroughly enjoyed all phases of his education and career in the natural resources field. Each day he seen and learned something new, and my interest continued to grow. He had said, “They will probably have to carry me off of this job?”--- “Hopefully at about 80 or 90 years old!” Arthur is survived by his niece, Michelle Williamson and husband James; nephews, Curt and wife Sue Crader and Mark and Linnie Crader, and Scott Crader, also survived by other relatives and friends.
Visitation Monday April 13, 2026 from 10:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. at Horton-Wampler Funeral Home, 1 Federal Park Ave., Park Hills, Mo. 63601
Service Monday April 13, 2026 at 1:00 P.M. at Horton-Wampler Funeral Home.