Alan Brink

Monday, December 27, 2021 4:15 pm

Al Brink didn’t walk out of a room without leaving a smile or laugh on someone’s face. Alan Roy Brink, or as his nephews would call him, “Al Roy”, passed away on Dec. 22, 2021, at the age of 55, at one of his favorite places on this earth, the farm he grew up on; the farm he hoped to own someday.

Al was born Sept. 17, 1966, in Postville, to Gary and Lucille (Bigler) Brink. He graduated from Waukon Senior High in 1985. He worked hard his whole life for two things: to provide for his family and to buy the farm from his parents. While he may have bitched a lot about the farm, he truly loved it. Almost as much as he loved his family.

Al and his first wife Becky were married on Aug. 4, 1990. They were blessed with their first daughter Shelby in 1992, followed by their second, Samantha, in 1994. After some heartbreak, Al and Becky had their rainbow baby, Trevor, in 2000. Since then, they’ve welcomed two granddaughters into this world, with another grandbaby on the way.

Al’s love went beyond his own kids and grandkids. He married the love of his life, Shari, on Sept. 29, 2018, at the family farm. He then gained three step-sons, and now has four more grandbabies.

Along with his love for his children, grandchildren, wife, mother, siblings, nieces and nephews, and many other family members, Al had many other passions. He was a gun enthusiast and always said he never wanted people to know what he had. Al loved hunting every year with his children and nephew/godson Nick, “adopted” nephew Ben, and looked forward to doing so with his grandchildren someday, just like his dad did. He also had a love for bowling, co-owning Arrowhead Lanes with his siblings for nearly a decade. For many years he was a member of the USBC and also earned his 299 ring. While he never achieved bowling a perfect 300 like his dad and brothers, he never once complained about it. He was just happy he got to enjoy this sport with his children, nieces and nephews, and cousins.

Al made an impact on many farmers in the tri-state area as a dairy technician for over three decades. While he didn’t enjoy the 3 AM calls, he loved the relationships he created with all those farmers and coworkers, some even becoming life-long friends. Al started racing stock cars at local tracks at the age of 19, which then became his favorite number and the number everyone associated with him. He gave up that love for a few years while he started his family, but knew he needed it back in his life. His children, nieces and nephews, and cousins spent many weekends at the track cheering him on, along with his cousin Jason. Al also passed on this passion to his daughter Shelby, who he helped get behind the wheel of a race car just months after she got her learner’s permit. Al passed on his love of animals and all things Saint Bernard to his daughter Samantha; the two of them had a dream to raise and breed Saint Bernards. His obsession with all things Mopar and International and Farmall tractors was shared with his son Trevor; “Mopar or no car” they would say. Al and Trevor started tinkering on cars before Trevor could walk. And he got to share his love for camping and the outdoors with his wife Shari. These two could be found at local campgrounds many weekends in the summer, just to get away from farming and work, enjoying being outside together. Most recently the two of them took on owning and operating a business together, Lucky Duck Fabrication.

Al is survived by his wife Shari of rural Postville; children: Shelby (Jesse) Hisel of Des Moines, Samantha (Sean) Larkin of Harpers Ferry, and Trevor (Sydney) Brink of rural Waukon; his step-children: Jason (Jerrica) Brink of Waterville, Jordan Brink of Lansing, and Jonah (Chase) Brink of Polk City; his grandchildren: Jonah and Charlotte Larkin, Gibson, Veda, Elsie, and Lorelei Brink, and Eleanor Hisel; his mother Lucille Brink of rural Postville; his two brothers: Gerald (Laurie) of rural Waukon and Darold “Red” (Kealy) Brink of Waukon; a sister Cindy (Jeff) Emery of rural Ottumwa; and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins. Al was preceded in death by his father Gary Brink and his grandparents Leo and Ruth Brink and Roy and Esther Bigler.

Al would hate all the fuss over him, and would only want happy moments, not tears. So a celebration of life to honor this amazing father, grandfather, husband, son, uncle, cousin, and friend will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. at Empty Nest Winery in rural Waukon on Tuesday, Dec 28.

Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.