Dorothy E. Brink

Dorothy E. Brink

Urbandale Formerly of Sheldon

Services for Dorothy E. Brink, age 88, of Urbandale, formerly of Sheldon, who passed away on Friday, December 1, 2023, at Glen Oaks Care Center in Urbandale.  Her funeral service will be held on 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon with Pastor Dave Van Kley ~ Officiating.

To view Dorothy's service live, please register at https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony?c=0a53e293-31ab-43bf-80b6-05204d868c59

Burial will be held at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.

Visitation with family present will be from 9 A.M. until time of service on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon.

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF

DOROTHY E. BRINK

BORN

July 5, 1935 ~ rural Ashton, Iowa

PASSED AWAY

December 1, 2023 ~ Urbandale, Iowa

FUNERAL SERVICE

10:30 A.M. Saturday, January 20, 2024

Immanuel Christian Reformed Church; Sheldon, Iowa

Pastor Dave Van Kley ~ Officiating

REFLECTIONS

Jack DeHoogh              Lowell Sterler         Lisa McMullen

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS

“Blessed Assurance”

“Count Your Blessings”

“Amazing Grace”

Pianist:  Jody Van Kley

CASKET BEARERS

Lowell Sterler                                           Seth McMullen

Mark Sterler                                             Noah McMullen

Rick Brink                                                        Micah Brink

FINAL RESTING PLACE

1:15 P.M. Saturday, January 20, 2024

East Lawn Cemetery

Sheldon, Iowa

After today’s service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the 

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.

Dorothy Elaine (Sterler) Brink was born July 5, 1935, to Henry and Helen (Miller) Sterler. Raised in rural Ashton, Iowa, she attended Ashton schools and was valedictorian of the Class of 1953. On June 5, 1958, Dorothy was united in marriage to Raymond Henry Brink at the Sheldon United Methodist Church, and the couple was blessed to celebrate 62 wonderful years of marriage. 

They lived in the Sheldon area (including Ritter and Matlock), and as they raised their three children, Dorothy worked on a part-time basis, serving as a teacher’s aide at East Elementary School, and as a Driver’s License Examiner traveling to various locations in Northwest Iowa. As the kids were in their teenage years Dorothy became a full-time Legal Secretary with the law firm of Wolff, Whorley, De Hoogh & Thompson. While she worked outside the home, she and Ray continued to support the kids’ many endeavors and activities. She also enjoyed her hobbies of floral arranging, cake decorating, sewing, knitting and getting together on a regular basis with friends through their Card Club. 

Following her retirement, Dorothy stayed active as a substitute secretary at Bethel Reformed Church and for years she and Ray exercised their gifts of hospitality by coordinating Bethel’s Wednesday night supper ministry. Dorothy was known for her amazing baked goods, especially her pecan pies, and friends and family looked forward to enjoying her creations.

In 2017, Ray and Dorothy made their home at Fieldcrest in Sheldon, with Ray in the Memory Care unit and Dorothy in the Assisted Living area. Despite being in separate rooms, they were blessed to visit with each other daily. The year following Ray’s June 2020 passing, Dorothy moved to Glen Oaks in Urbandale to be nearer to family.

Dorothy was surrounded by family in her final days, and on the morning of Friday December 1, 2023, she went to join her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She had reached the age of 88 years, 4 months, and 26 days. Left to cherish her memory are her three children: Rick Brink (Robin) of Monument, Colorado, Dr. Shari Brink (Judy Kramer) of New York City, New York, Lisa McMullen (Steve) of Urbandale, Iowa; four grandchildren: Seth McMullen (Breanne), Alyssa (McMullen) McMahon (Morgan), Noah McMullen (Mallory), Micah Brink (McKenna); five great-grandchildren: Harper McMullen, Beckett McMullen, Reagan McMullen, Brody McMullen, and Lainey McMullen. In addition, her sister-in-law, Donna Sterler (Merrill), has been like a sister to her. 

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Brink, her parents Henry and Helen Sterler, brother George Sterler and his wife Norma, brother Merrill Sterler, and her cousin LaVonne Blankers who was also like a sister.