Timothy “Tim” Douglas Palank was born on June 22, 1980, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He grew up in Hardwick, Minnesota, and was confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Luverne, Minnesota. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1998. He attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and then a semester at Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota, before he moved to Omaha in August 2001.
In Omaha he worked his way up at Sullivan’s Steakhouse, becoming an assistant manager and certified wine sommelier. In June 2017 he transferred from Sullivan’s Omaha to Sullivan’s Wilmington, Delaware, where he was the sommelier and manager. In December 2021 he became a manager at Steak 48 in City Center Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He loved his work and lived for the fast-paced nature of a restaurant.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, he passed away unexpectedly of natural causes as he left the restaurant. He was 45 years, 4 months, and 6 days old.
Tim was an enthusiastic sports fan, especially baseball and the Minnesota Twins, always rooting for the Minnesota teams but tolerating the Philadelphia teams. He and Sandy loved exploring the East Coast food scene, concerts, art museums and national parks. Above all these things, his greatest joy was being an uncle.
He is lovingly remembered by his beloved partner, Sandy Groenwold of Claymont, Delaware; his parents, Sarah (Gary) Kooiker of Brandon, South Dakota; father, Douglas (Vicki) Palank of Omaha, Nebraska; siblings, Abigail (Marc) and Isla Carey of Champlin, Minnesota, Hannah (Roberto) and Jack Timothy Luciano of Gainesville, Florida, and Jessica Palank of Omaha, Nebraska; and many loving family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his Bracken grandparents; Palank grandparents; his uncle, Leslie Palank; his aunt, Julie Pepper; Grandma Kooiker; and Grandma Hostler.
