Jerry Fink
Jerry Fink passed away peacefully on August 6 at the age of 87. A memorial service will take place in the late fall. During his last year because of his failing physical health, Jerry was a resident at Northcott Care Center where he received not only outstanding care but also friendship. He often commented on all the staff who were so good to him and who spent time visiting. That will always be appreciated by Jerry’s family and friends. Jerry was predeceased by Jeanie, his wife and soul mate, who were married for 60 years. Jerry was the last remaining member of his family predeceased by Helen Gee, Dolly Bednar, Mary Holben, Rita Smith Josephine Brault, Jean Dyk, Jim, Mickey and Roger Fink. He is survived by his five children, Ben and Alyson from Canmore, Peggy and Larry from Victoria, Lennard from Okotoks, Greg from Victoria, and Jim and Adrienne from Carmacks, Yukon. Jerry and Jeanie had 9 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Jerry is also survived by his only remaining sister-in-law, Mary Fink from Red Deer who was married to Roger. In Jeanie’s family, Jerry is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Peggy and Ron Moch of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, sister-in-law Beth Coats of Grand Prairie and brother and sister-in-law Alex and Darcie Wiggins from Ponoka.
Jerry was born on November 2, 1928 on the family farm north of Ponoka and he took his education in the one room school house at the Hazel Hill School. Jerry’s family moved to the Hazel Hill district on his grandfather’s farm and along with his father Ben who had a great spirit of adventure raised numerous animals including mink, fox, dairy and beef cattle and horses. Although uncommon at the time, the Fink’s had a beautiful and productive fruit orchard including apples, crab apples, and plums. Although Jerry did not often have time for gardening, he was an outstanding gardener and when he worked a flower bed, you knew he had been there. The Fink farm was a focal point for both his and Jeanie’s family and he always welcomed his relatives to the Fink family picnics or the Wiggins family barbeques.
Jerry’s passion was hunting and fishing. His family and friends have many memories of fishing and camping in the mountains. For several years he was the president of the Ponoka Fish and Game Association and served on the provincial board. As well, he was awarded an honorary life time member of the Alberta Fish and Game Association. For many years and he helped to create the Pofianga, a community center and fishing pool north of Ponoka. Trophy Lodge, a fishing resort on Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories, was part of Jerry’s life for many years. Being an original shareholder, Jerry was very proud of Trophy Lodge. In 1968, he spent the summer building the airstrip and later became the manager where he and Jeanie met many wonderful people and had amazing experiences. Jerry’s youngest son Jim and his family own and operate an outfitting business in the Yukon Territory and Jim attributes his love of the business to his dad and mom. Jerry always enjoyed and looked forward to visits from his grandchildren especially stories of the north from his grandsons Logan, Warren and Colin. Jerry also had a keen interest in aviation and knew any plane or helicopter in the sky. He was so proud when his granddaughter, Megan received her commercial helicopter license and he looked forward to hearing her stories of flying. Hunting was always a part of Jerry’s life and in his later years he took great pride in Jim’s business and looked forward to hearing about all their adventures. His nephew, Cam Fink, recently recalled a memory he had of his uncle Jerry. Cam recalls one day when they were at the farm and his father, Roger, had brought a new shot gun (double barrel side-by-side break in half 12 gauge with gold plated triggers.) Cam recalls them going outside and Jerry said something like, “Let’s see if this thing can shoot.” His youngest son Jim threw an old tomato juice can as far up in the air as he could wing it. Jerry whipped this big heavy gun up to his shoulder and in a split second fired at the can, of course hitting it dead on and sending the fragmented can spinning away from them but still moving up in the air. He then fired again quickly striking another deadly hit and nearly obliterating the can altogether. Roger looked at Cam and said, “He’s always been a helluva shot! Best of the bunch of us!”
Once again Jerry’s family would like to thank Northcott Care Center for the wonderful care they took of Jerry. As well, they would like to thank all of his friends and his extended family who always took time to stop in for a visit. The family looks forward to meeting all of Jerry’s extended family and friends at a memorial service later in the fall.
To express condolences to Jerry’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com.
Arrangements Entrusted To Ponoka Funeral Home
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