Velma Fink Mack

Velma M. Fink Mack, 94, of New Albin died Sunday, July 27, 2014 at Thornton Manor in Lansing. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 2 at 11 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church in New Albin, with Pastor Kevin Smith and Pastor David Smtih officiating. Burial will be at New Albin City Cemetery, New Albin. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday, August 1 at the New Albin Community Center in New Albin. Martin Funeral Home of Waukon is handling arrangements.
Velma Mildred Smith Fink Mack was born January 21, 1920 in Dorchester, the daughter of Wilfred and Myrtle (Burroughs) Smith. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Dorchester and attended the Dorchester School. Following her schooling, Velma did housekeeping for several area families.
May 1, 1937 she married Freeman John Fink in Waukon. She and Freeman lived in various places in Allamakee County before settling in New Albin in 1944. Velma was a busy homemaker and dedicated mother, raising nine children; a job she had to do on her own following Freeman’s death in 1961. April 22, 1964 she married Walter Mack in Chicago, IL. After Walter’s death in 1966, Velma was once again on her own but proved more than capable of raising her children with the values she considered important.
In addition to tending to her family’s needs, Velma was a member of the New Albin VFW Ladies Auxiliary, a devoted member of Grace United Methodist Church and its ladies organizations, and the New Albin Sr. Citizens. She was extremely community oriented and supportive of her friends, taking part in all of the New Albin events and often being among the first to help when anyone was in need.
Some of Velma’s other pastimes included playing cards, listening to music and dancing, and following the Chicago Cubs. Throughout her life her family remained the center of importance and she loved times they spent together at holidays and special events.
Survivors include her nine children, Rodney (Mary) Fink of Waukon, Joe (Donna) Fink of Novinger, MO, Pete (Bernice) Fink, John Fink, Sheila (Lloyd) Colsch, Sherry (Lennie) Mellick and Mike (Shirley) Fink, all of New Albin, Donna (Steve) Stortz of Waukon, and Diane (Tom) Feuerhelm of New Albin; 31 grandchildren; 54 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Freeman Fink and Walter Mack; two daughters-in-law, Judy and Sally Fink; and three brothers, Dale, Roger and Kenneth (Lyla) Smith.
Honorary casketbearers are Velma's grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Randy, Fred, Greg, Dennis and Rick Smith, Tom Feuerhelm, Lloyd Colsch, Steve Stortz and Lennie Mellick.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.