Donald Harry Brink died peacefully at home, with his wife by his side on Sept. 6, 2025. Don was born on Jan. 28, 1930, in Fort Atkinson to Harry and Ruth (Dollase) Brink.
Don went to high school in Watertown, where he was also a lifeguard at the public swimming pool. That’s where he met his companion for life, Charlotte June Schroeder. On Jan. 30, 1949, Don and Charlotte were married in Watertown. Married for over 76 years, they brought five children into the world.
Don was a bricklayer by trade and helped build buildings throughout southern Wisconsin. As his kids grew, he taught children in the community to swim and dive at the pool and gymnastics in the gym. He helped build Immanuel Lutheran Church in Watertown, where he also taught Sunday school. It was during this time that Don served three years in the National Guard.
In 1969, Don and Charlotte would see their lives change in an amazing way, when they followed God’s call to be missionaries through the World Brotherhood Exchange. They spent nine months in Cameroon, West Africa, where Don oversaw the building of a hospital dispensary, teacher’s homes and a church.
After that, they were called back to Africa and served in Cameroon, Central African Republic, South Africa, and Senegal. In each country, Don continued to oversee the building of new buildings that improved the lives of so many people. He also built a water tower and water system to bring clean fresh water. But Don did more than build buildings. He built relationships with each person he worked with and helped them see God’s love and grace.
Don and Charlotte continued as missionaries, becoming house parents at the boarding school in Garoua Boulai, Cameroon. There, they loved and cared for other missionaries’ kids from kindergarten through 8th grade. That love and care for people and kids would carry on for many years. After working with kids in Papua, New Guinea and The Virgin Islands, Don and Charlotte worked in homes in Pennsylvania for troubled youth and in Wisconsin for young unwed mothers and their babies. In Florida, Don and Charlotte taught classes in English as a second language.
They also spent time in France working in many independent mission capacities. This is the place to which they always dreamed of returning. Every chance he could get, Don would dream of just one more trip to Paris, to the streets where they felt so much joy and peace.
Don will be remembered by his family for teaching them new games and playing with them. If there was a family gathering, there were games led by Grandpa – pool, chess, hearts, up and down the river, and more. If you didn’t know how to play, he would teach you. Don spent the last years of his life in Burlington, where he continued to play chess with anyone who would play. Whether it was friends or his grandkids, he would never refuse the chance.
Don was one of the most die-hard fans of Duke Blue Devil Basketball. If they weren’t playing, he was reading about what kids they had coming next year. The shirts he wore, his pillow, and his computer home page all declared his great allegiance to the Blue Devils. And sitting right next to him was his much-loved dog, Mutzer.
Don is survived by his wife Charlotte; five children, Ron (Jean Henke) Brink, Jim (Kay Lawton) Brink, Gary Brink, Becky Stiemke, and John (Melody) Brink; 17 grandkids, and 29 great grandkids.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 27, at Cross Lutheran Church with visitation from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at Noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Cross Lutheran Church in Burlington.
Schuette-Daniels Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family. For online condolences, please visit www.danielsfamilyfuneral.com.
