Elbert Edwin Brink, 87, of Shattuc, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, March 10th surrounded by his family. Elbert was born on October 14, 1937, in Ferrin, Illinois, the son of Edwin and Louise (Michael) Brink. He married Lois Kroeger at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hoyleton, IL on August 22, 1964. They celebrated 60 years of marriage last August.
Elbert grew up near Ferrin, IL. He graduated from Carlyle High School in 1955. After graduation, he served in the United States Army Reserves. After returning home from the reserves, he started farming and continued that for over 60 years. In addition to farming, he and his brother Leroy started Brink Bros. Grain and Trucking. He enjoyed driving semi’s for many years. Elbert enjoyed quail hunting and bowling. As he moved into retirement, he loved to garden, cook, and play cards and to talk about the 1942 Chevy truck that the family had restored. He was a lifelong member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Ferrin, IL serving in various positions over the years and enjoyed participating in the Men’s Club activities. He was also a former 4-H Leader, a member of the Mid-West Truckers Association, and a member of the Clinton County Farm Bureau.
He is survived by his wife Lois and their four children, Jeffrey (Kathryn) Brink of Sandoval, Cheryl (Kenneth) Vohlken of Highland, Darrell (Dawn) Brink of Shattuc and Wayne (Jennifer) Brink of Shattuc. He is also survived by his four loving grandchildren Ashley (Cory) Vosholler of Highland, Matthew (Paige) Vohlken of Shattuc, Amanda Brink (special friend Luke Birkner) of Shattuc, and Nathan Brink of Shattuc.
In addition, he is survived by three precious great grandsons, Kade Vosholler, Gavin Vosholler and Cole Vohlken.
Also surviving are brothers in law and sisters in law, Marvin Miessner of Nashville, Ruth Brink of Sandoval, Ruth Ann Arbeiter of Gorham and James Kroeger of Hoyleton and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gilbert and Bertha Kroeger, sister Mildred Miessner, brother and sister-in-law Leroy and Eileen Brink, brother Melvin Brink, sister-in-law Kathy Kroeger and brothers-in-law, Hilmer Mueller and Willard Arbeiter.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ferrin. Interment will follow at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery in Ferrin. Friends and relatives are welcome at the visitation from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friday, March 14, 2025, and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday until the time of the service at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ferrin.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorials be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cemetery Fund, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, or Christ Our Rock Lutheran High School. Memorials will be accepted for the family at Bethlehem Lutheran Church or at the Day Macz Funeral Home in Centralia. Online condolences and memories of Elbert may be shared with his family by visiting maczfuneralhomes.com and/or on the funeral home’s Facebook page.
