BRINK, Robert A.

BRINK, SMITH, WARD, VEIT, KAUFMAN, WALKER, CARTER

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 12/9/2007 at 17:14:55

Robert A. Brink, 89, of Cherokee died Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007, at his residence following a brief illness.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Meriden Evangelical Free Church in Meriden, Iowa, with the Rev. Larry Ostercamp officiating. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday in Correctionville Cemetery, Correctionville, Iowa, with military rites conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars L.A. Wescott Post 2253. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, with the family present 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Greenwood Funeral Home in Cherokee. Condolences may be sent online to www.greenwoodfuneral.com.

Robert was born Jan. 18, 1918, in Marion, Iowa, to Harry and Minnie Belle (Smith) Brink. He attended school in Correctionville, Iowa, graduating from high school in 1935. Following graduation, he worked for Greeley's Grocery Store for three years, Wayne and Bob's City Service on Highway 20 for two years and managed a State Liquor Store for two years. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps from October 1942 to March 1945.

On May 19, 1945, he married Betty Ward in Lakewood, Ohio. She preceded him in death on Dec. 25, 1998.

He began working for the Economics Lab in October 1945 and stayed with the same company for 28 years. He retired as vice president of national accounts. During his career, he lived in Cleveland, Ohio, Philadelphia, Pa., New York City, the Bay Area of California and Fullerton, Calif. He retired in February 1973 and was proud of being retired longer than he had spent working. Following his retirement, the couple lived in Rancho Bernardo, Calif., San Diego, Calif., and moved to Cherokee in September 1989.

He enjoyed golfing, traveling and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his daughter and her husband, Nancy and Dr. Steve Veit of Cherokee; sons, Gary Ward Brink of Los Gatos, Calif., Bob Brink and his wife, Cyndye Polsgrove of Murietta, Calif.; granddaughters and their husbands, Sara and Jorun Kaufman of Kansas City, Mo., Julie and Justin Walker of Denver, Colo., and Anna and Jonathon Veit-Carter of Madison, Wis.; a grandson, Stephen Veit of Cherokee; a great-granddaughter, Ryla Kaufman; and a brother, Harry Brink of Cherokee.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; three brothers, Harold, Ted and Wayne; a sister, Beulah; and sisters-in-law, Catherine and Evelyn Brink.