Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Bink

BINK, OELKE, BENDER, POULL, OLESON

Posted By: Judy Moyna (email)
Date: 2/8/2011 at 17:18:46

ALFRED BINK
(By Judy Bender Moyna)

Alfred Bink and Marinette Oelke Bender were married 13 Oct 1947 at St. Raphael's Cathedral, Dubuque, Iowa. Alfred, who served in the army during World War I, had worked in banks in Ossian and Dubuque before returning to Elkader to assist his father in the department and grocery store operated by the Poull and Bink families since 1899. In 1937 the partnership of Poull and Bink was dissolved and the Bink family continued operation of the business under the name Bink Mercantile Co. in the buildings now occupied by Bries Fabric and Fashion and the Clayton County Abstract Co.

Marinette, who attended Bayless Business College in Dubuque, worked as cashier and bookkeeper for Bink Mercantile from 1942 until 1957 when illness forced Alfred and his sister Marion Bink to sell the family business.

Alfred and Marinette were the parents of two daughters, Lois Ann Cecile and Rose Katherin born in McGregor, Iowa. Lois and Kathy and their half-sister Judy Bender were all graduates of Central High School, Elkader, and Upper Iowa University, Fayette.

Following the sale of Bink Mercantile, Alfred and Marinette Bink served as managers of the Elkader Country Club. Alfred died 29 Apr 1969 after suffering for more than 15 years from emphysema. Marinette continued to manage the country club until her marriage in 1972 to Avron Oleson.

Marinette continued to be active in the community, especially in work involving senior citizens. For a time she managed the Ecumenical Towers in Dubuque and was manager of the Keystone Terrace Apartments in Elkader. She and her husband Avron were active with the Area Agency on Aging and with establishing the local Senior Citizen Meal Site. Avron Oleson died 24 Mar 1995 in Elkader, Iowa. Marinette died 11 Aug 1987 in Elkader, Iowa.
_________________
~This information has been collected by Judy and Jerry Moyna, Elkader, Iowa, from various records. Contact Judy Moyna for more information