March 24, 1923 – December 30, 2022

A memorial service for Nellie Brink, 99, of Edgerton was held Friday, January 6, 2023; 1:30 p.m.  at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton with Pastor Marlin Van Schepen officiating. Interment was in Hillside Cemetery in Edgerton.

Music was provided by pianist Linda Vanderaa;  with Take Time To Be Holy  as the prelude; special memories was provided by Eric Groen, her oldest grandchild, and the congregation sang When Peace Like A River, Praise The Lord! Sing Hallelujah!  and Glory To God as the recessional.

Pallbearers were  Brent Groen, Andrew Kleinjan, Patrick Kleinjan, Dana Kleinjan, Ryan Brink, and Kristen Niemeyer.

Nellie Brink was born on March 24, 1923, to Harm J. and Alice (Koedam) De Groot. She grew up on the family farm near Edgerton and attended country school. For one year she attended Edgerton Christian Elementary School where she graduated from the 8th grade.

On November 17, 1942, she married Marion Brink. She was a mother and homemaker as well as an accomplished seamstress and quilter. Crocheting and embroidery were hobbies she enjoyed. She also enjoyed gardening with both flowers and vegetables. She was a self-taught pianist who spent many hours at the piano in her home. She enjoyed and appreciated music, and she and her sisters sang together for many occasions. Nellie volunteered many hours at Bethel CRC, where she was a charter member, and at ECES and SWCH where her children and many of her grandchildren attended school.

Nellie lived in the Edgerton area her entire life. In 1972 she was widowed when her husband, Marion, suffered a fatal heart attack. She lived in the home they built together until 2006 when she moved into Edgebrook Estates Assisted Living and later into the nursing home there.

On December 30, 2022, Nellie died at Edgebrook Care Center at the age of 99.

She is survived by her children: Daryl (Sharon), Cheri (Cal) Groen, Donna (George) Fox, Loren (Jennifer), Brenda (Kevin) Kleinjan, daughter-in-law Jan Brink, 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, sisters Mayme (Art) Spronk and Vonnie (Al) Walhof. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Marion, and her son, Jerry; siblings: Hemet, Grace (Clares) Roskamp, Bertus (Lucy), Alice (Bud) Jasper, Frank (Dorothy), and one infant grandson, Kent Groen.