Gary L. Brink

Monday, March 9, 2015 4:41 pm

Gary L. Brink, 73, of rural Postville, died Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Funeral services were Monday, March 9, at 11 a.m. at Zalmona Presbyterian Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Tom Buresh officiating. Burial was at Zalmona Cemetery. Friends called from 3-7 p.m. Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. Gary’s grandsons will serve as casketbearers and his granddaughters and great-grandchildren will serve as honorary casketbearers. Online condolences may be left at martinfunerals.com.

Gary Leo Brink was born Nov. 26, 1941, to Leo George and Ruth Alice (Ludeking) Brink in Waukon. He was baptized and confirmed at Zalmona Presbyterian Church and attended Ludlow No. 3 rural school through the 8th grade. He was united in marriage to Lucille Marie Bigler Aug. 29, 1959, at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah. Gary hauled can milk for four years. In 1960 he purchased a bulk milk route from his dad, which he ran for seven years. After selling the route Gary and Lucille started farming on halves with Gary’s parents. They purchased the farm in 1976 where they raised their four children, milked cows and raised hogs and crops. Gary truly enjoyed life on the farm; he was a jack-of-all-trades and the owner of Brink Mfg. Gary was a lifelong member of Zalmona Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder. He liked staying active and enjoyed bowling, boating, water skiing, hunting and fishing. He loved to spend time with his grandkids and great-grandkids. Gary had memorable travels with his family to Wisconsin Dells, a flight to Florida, a cruise to the Bahamas and an RV trip out west to Wyoming and South Dakota.

Gary is survived by his wife, Lucille, of rural Postville; their children: Gerald (Laurie Hoisington) Brink, Darrold “Red” Brink and Alan (Shari) Brink, all of Waukon and Cindy (Jeff) Emery of Ottumwa; their grandchildren: Bethany Brink, Sarah (Matt Kipp) Brink, Garrett Brink, Nick Brink, Keith Brink, Tasha Brink, Cody Emery, Dacia (Sam Ash) Brink, Shelby Brink, Billy Brink, Kayla Emery, Samantha Brink, Colton Emery, Trevor Brink, Kaitlyn Emery and Zechariah Brink; their great-grandchildren: Dominic Engrav, Tegan Ash and Landon Kipp; his brothers: Gayle (Linda) Brink and Greg (Donna) Brink, both of Waukon and Gene (Jan) Brink of Baltimore, Md.; and his sisters: Gloria (Joe) Burkart of Crestview, Fla. and Geraldine (Greg) Winkler of Monona.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Ruth Brink; a sister, Jean Ann Brink; and an infant brother.