63946_Donovan “Don”_Rink

Don Rink
May 16, 1937 – March 8, 2014

Don Rink, 76, of Clarion, passed away Saturday, March 8, 2014 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 13, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion.

Memorial services will be held privately for the family.

Donovan Ray Rink was born May 16, 1937 in rural Belmond to Pete and Gail (Smith) Rink. The family moved to Clarion and Don attended St. John’s Catholic school and graduated from Clarion High School.

Upon graduation, Don attended barber college in Sioux City and began his career as a barber in 1956 working with Clark Holthaus. He worked in Estherville for a time and worked with Russ Melhus for 6 years and later with Dick Simmons for 8 years before opening his own shop. Don retired in 2007 after more than 51 years.

Don was united in marriage to Diane Evans on September 3, 1966 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Clarion. The couple made their home in Clarion where they raised their 2 daughters.

Don was an avid sports fan. He wrote Clarion football and wrestling articles for the Clarion paper, coached midget league baseball in Clarion for years and served as a high school girls softball umpire. He participated in slow pitch softball leagues and played in numerous local area golf tournaments. Don loved bowling and played in the state bowling tournament several times. He also enjoyed playing 3-handed pinochle and pool. Don attended the NCAA Wrestling National Championships several times with a group of friends from the area which was something he looked forward to each year.

Don and Diane shared similar interests and they spent much of their time together bowling, golfing, or watching various sporting events on television. He was a huge Iowa Hawkeyes fan. They also enjoyed attending their girls’ sporting events, and taking them to major league baseball games and on fishing trips in their youth.

Don is survived by his wife, Diane Rink of Clarion; daughters Rhonda (Dan) Skinner and their children Sydney, Grant, Laban and Holden of Spokane, Washington and Nancy (Chad) Olson and their children Maddie, Zane and Emi of St. Charles, Iowa; brothers Bob (Val) Rink of Phoenix, Arizona and Tom Rink of Scranton, Iowa; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Dick Rink and Bill Rink.

Leave a Reply