Chris Brink, son of Chris F. Brink and Mabel Strait Brink, was born January 10, 1927 in Castana, Iowa and died January 24, 2003 at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 76 years and 14 days.
Chris attended school in Dow City, before he entered the United States Air Force on April 4, 1946. He served until his Honorable Discharge on September 17, 1947. After returning home he owned a feed grinder for a couple of years. He was united in marriage to Darlene Weems on June 26, 1949 and they made their home in Arion, Iowa. The couple became parents of Donovan, Rocky, and Vickie. Chris attended Telegraphy School and became employed with the Milwaukee Railroad in 1949. The family lived in Charter Oak, Iowa for twenty-three years, where Chris worked as a section foreman. He then transferred to Jackson, Minnesota where he worked as an Assistant Roadmaster and later he and Darlene transferred to Austin, Minnesota where he became a Roadmaster. In 1979, Chris and Darlene transferred to Perry, Iowa, just before the Milwaukee Railroad went defunct. Chris continued his employment with the Milwaukee Railroad traveling for six years finalizing and closing out offices and selling railroad property. He retired in 1986. The couple summered from April to October in Spirit Lake, Iowa for the last thirteen years. Chris was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Perry. He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and doing crossword games.
Preceding Chris in death were his parents; stepmother, Dora; four brothers, Rolla, Bud known as "Earl", Carl known as "Bill", and Clarence known as "Swede"; and one sister, Opal; and one sister-in-law, Etta known as "Toots".
Survivors include his wife Darlene of Perry; two sons: Donovan Brink and his special friend, Salina Savage of Sioux City, Iowa, Rocky Brink and his wife Karen of Thermopolis, Wyoming; one daughter, Vickie Brink and her special friend of Des Moines, Iowa; four grandchildren, Melissa Larson and her husband Don of Elkhorn, Nebraska; Brandon Brink and his wife Alexa of Oakland, Iowa; Christopher Brink of Riverton, Wyoming, Sean Brink of Thermopolis, Wyoming; Salina's children, Sarah Savage and Kaitlynn; five great-grandchildren,Timothy Brink, Alissa Brink, Ellie Larson and two step great-grandchildren.
Others survivors include one brother, Willis Brink and his wife Macky of Onawa, Iowa; one sister, Ruby Phipps and her husband Harold of Blencoe, Iowa; three sisters-in-law, Lois Hess of Onawa, Iowa, Lavonne Brink of Denison, Iowa and Janice Brink of Storm Lake, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
A Prayer service was held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 26, 2003 at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry, Iowa.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 27, 2003 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Perry, Iowa with Rev. Wayne J. Ahrens providing words of comfort.
Honorary casket bearers were Harold Crouch, Ed Kuhlmann, Harold W. Anderson, Marv Harmann, LeVerne Creese, Vic Bohlmann, Hank Hensen and Bob Buscher.
Casket bearers were Christopher Brink, Brandon Brink, Sean Brink Kenny Brink, Russell D. Wearmouth and Dan Rahje.
Lorraine Lutjen, organist accompanied the congregation as they sang "The Church's One Foundation" and "Onward Christian Soldiers". Recorded music "To Where You Are" was also played. The service concluded with the recorded sound of a train whistle.
A graveside service was held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, January 27, 2003 at the Dow City Cemetery in Dow City, Iowa.

COU NEWSpaper, February 6, 2003