Pat Fink Remembers

"One of the most outstanding memories I have of Dad is that he always provided for his family. He had eight children and it wasn't always easy for him to provide the things we needed in the way of food, clothing, and a place to live. But he always found a way to do it. Sometimes he had to work two jobs to make ends meet but he took his family responsibilities seriously and did what he had to do.

"He was never out of work for very long at a time. he would take on any kind of work as long as it would help him provide for us. 

"When Mike and I were pretty young, maybe 10 to 12 years old, the brothers asked Dad to help out in the Circuit Assembly's trucking department. Dad told the brothers he would only do it if he could take along his boys (Mike and I). That was a great experience for us. We loved working the the trucking and food service departments. Dad made sure that anytime there was work to be done around the Kingdom Hall he always involved Mike and I. 

"One year our congregation was asked to go to Indio, California, to a vineyard Bob Hope let the brothers pick grapes in for a district convention. Mike and I went along on that trip. It was 109 degrees at 9 a.m. Gnats crawled all over the sweat that poured off us, but it was still great fun being able to help the brothers and associate with the friends. When Dad worked with the brothers it seemed to be some of his happiest times. 

"Dad was always great at coming up with ideas for service meeting skits. One time the setting was that he was out in service and the person he called on was mowing the lawn with a push mower. The grass was a piece of shag carpet and it kept getting wadded up in the mower. The audience was in stitches.

"Dad instilled in all of his children a good work ethic and tried to help us appreciate the things we had and the things we worked for. Mike and I were earning our own money at a very early age: painting fences, mowing lawns, throwing newspapers... whatever we could do to earn a little extra money. We learned early on if we wanted something we had to earn it. There was no such thing as a free hand out. Because of that I never had to ask my Dad for money or any financial help the whole time Darcy and I have been married. I'm very grateful that Dad saw the importance of teaching us these things. 

"We always had chores to do around the house before and after school from as long as I can remember. We worked with Dad on his gardening jobs too. I don't ever remember telling my Mom or Dad that I was bored. If I did, I knew he'd find something for me to do. I think the training Dad gave us during those years we grew up was his way of saying he loved us. After he's resurrected, I'm looking forward to working with him again, this time helping to restore the earth into a Paradise. So all I can say is I hope he's good and rested when the time comes."

~Patrick Fink, son

Sandra Pillow-Poshinske Remembers

"After Grandma passed away last July I asked Gramps if he would write to me. He said yes and I am so grateful he did. His letters brought the biggest smiles to my face. He was full of jokes, funny drawings and quirky sayings. I know that Frieda, Dianna, Dinah, Dennis, Mike and many others will all be happy now that he is there with them to make them smile and laugh like he did for all of us here. May he rest now but always know he is sorely missed by many.

"In the words of Gramps, "I cross my heart and hope to spit!"

"Thank you for coming into my life for that short time. I love and miss you Gramps."

~Sandra Pillow-Poshinske, granddaughter

Barbara "Bobby" Christall Remembers

“I loved him dearly. He was always there, spoiling me, protecting me, making me laugh. He bought my first watch and then my first bicycle. He taught me how to dance. When he came back home years later, he put a penny in a bottle and gave it to me and said, “Now you’ll never be broke.” 

"Don was eight years older than me. As the only girl, I was a spoiled brat. When mom would try to spank me, he would throw himself over me and take my licks. He was so protective of me.

"When he was a teen, he would get ready to go out in the magazine work in an odd way. He got completely dressed, and had even put on his overcoat and gotten out his magazine bag. Then he would put on his socks and shoes. He was funny like that sometimes. I always remember those things and smile.

"I was 14 years old when he got married. After Frieda died, he told me many times that he was tired and just wanted to go to sleep until this system was over with. He missed her so bad. 

"He was the last of my family. I'm just glad that he loved Jehovah and I have the chance to see him again in paradise."

~Barbara "Bobby" Christall, sister