Elaine C. Fink, 78, gained her angel wings at her home on June 7, 2018, surrounded by her family she loved so dearly.  Elaine fought a long and courageous battle with cancer until the end.Elaine was born on February 23, 1940, to the late Melvin and Thelma Borkenhagen (Engebretson).

Elaine grow up on her parents’ dairy farm, and she was always a farmer’s daughter at heart.  Elaine would share stories of growing up on the farm, and remembering a time when farming was a neighborhood affair, complete with not only field work, but the women cooking a grand meal to be had at day’s end.  Growing up Elaine was especially close with her cousins: Eileen, Judy, and Betty Ann.

The four cousins shared a lifelong bond. Elaine attended PJ Jacobs High School in Stevens Point.Elaine met her lifelong love, Orville Fink, at the age of 15. Elaine Carol and Orville Richard were united in marriage on May 4, 1957 at St John’s Lutheran Church in Dancy.   And together they had four children: Dan, Terri, Tammie, and Shelly. Raising one boy and three girls always proved to be a challenge at the kitchen table, with Dan and Orv saying a few words, and all the girls in the family dominating the conversation.

Elaine was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Junction City and was actively involved in the congregation’s Ladies’ Aid.  Elaine was a homemaker until her children were school aged. She then was employed at River Pines Nursing Home in Stevens Point for a short period.  Elaine found a job with the United States Postal Service. She retired from the USPS in 2000.

Elaine realized what she was meant to do when she became a Grandmother.  Elaine enjoyed spending as much time with her grandchildren as she could.  Elaine had five grandchildren (Amanda, Lance, Patty, Abby, and Ben) whom she made sure to shower with love.  Elaine traveled many places with her grandchildren: Florida, Texas, Mexico, Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky, Minnesota, and all over our beautiful state of Wisconsin. If they were ready to travel, Elaine was ready to take them. She was never willing to miss a trip to have a good time with her family.

Elaine had many interests most of which involved being with her family.  When Elaine was home she could often be found sitting on her kitchen chair with the phone in her ear talking for hours to her loved ones. Elaine loved to be “on the go” and to be busy with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  Elaine loved to be surrounded by everyone she loved, her family was her pride and joy.

Elaine is survived by her four children, Daniel Fink, Junction City, Terri Fink, Junction City, Tammie (Michael) Lehman, Spencer, and Michelle (David II) Oelke, Junction City.  Her five grandchildren, Amanda (David) Knecht, Spencer, Lance (Amanda) Lehman, Marshfield, Patricia (Jonathan) Bulgrin, Milladore, Abigail Lehman (Nickolas Wash), Spencer, and Benjamin Tryba (Shelby Payne), Wisconsin Rapids.    Two step grandchildren, David Oelke III (Courtney Krzanowski), Stratford, and Elizabeth Oelke (Adam Zietlow), Tomahawk. Eleven great grandchildren that proudly called her Nana: Theresa Joan, Addison Rae, Alaina Carol and Trenton Rolland Knecht, Hannah Kay, Grace Ann, Kade Michael and Raegan Elizabeth Lehman, Jace Parker Cattanach, Brayden Jeffery Hansford and Elouise May Zietlow.

One brother, Kenneth (Katherine) Borkenhagen, Mosinee.  Also many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Orville and her parents, Thelma and Melvin Borkenhagen.

A calling of family and friends will be held at Martens/Rembs Funeral home in Junction City from 4pm to 8pm  on the evening of Monday, June 11, 2018 as well as an hour prior to service at church. And funeral services on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 11am at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Junction City with Rev. Dr. Timothy Roser officiating.

Memorials can be made to St Paul’s Lutheran Church Ladies Aid.

A special thanks to Doctor Arlene Gayle from the Marshfield Clinic Oncology Department for her compassion and warmth with our mom and Ascension Hospice for being there for mom and our family in these last few weeks.

Condolences may be sent online at www.rembsfh.com