Dwayne Harold Fink
06/15/1932 - 06/25/2020
Tempe, AZ
Dwayne Harold Fink was born 15 June 1932 in Naeve Hospital, Albert Lea, Minnesota to Harold and Dora (Lutteke) Fink. Dwayne died June 25, 2020. His ashes are to be scattered with wife Edna’s at the University Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden in Tempe, Arizona.

Dwayne grew up a farm boy where he learned to gather eggs, feed calves, birth sows and cows, drive horses and tractors, raise bees, plan & plant gardens, build bird houses, plus a gazillion other tasks required to make a farm hum. Everything he learned after that was filtered through that rural/farm background.

He was first formally educated (K-8) in the one-room Freeborn Country School Dist. 69, near Conger, that had been established by his Great Grandfather Frederick Finke. Dwayne graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1950; his favorite classes/experiences revolved around Agriculture, Future Farmers of America, and Journalism (writing for the weekly AhLaHaSa and school year-book).

Dwayne served in the Army during the Korean War. There were no medals of honor: all was quiet atop the bombed out HeartBreak Ridge as both sides were hoping that the armistice would come soon, which, thank God it did.

Those two years of military service changed Dwayne's life for good. After the war, Dwayne signed up for the G.I. Bill, and enrolled at the University of Minnesota. He obtained his M.S. in Soils. This cerebral introduction only farther wetted his love of science, so he continued on - obtaining a PhD in Agronomy/Soils at Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI).

God answered Dwayne's prayer for a loving wife, by arranging a happenstance meeting with the beautiful Edna Dewey. God knew their respective time schedules (Jeremiah 29:11), permitting adequate time for a memorable courtship, and the perfect wedding sandwiched between U of M and VPI (Sep 4, 1960,Blairstown, Iowa). After academia, Dwayne worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Phoenix, AZ. His research involved finding new potential crops grown in the arid Arizona desert (Jojoba, Guayule, and Christmas trees).

Upon retirement, Dwayne discovered Audubon and birding, and the trials of being a progressive Democrat in Arizona. He compiled several genealogy books with brother Roger on their extended family. Edna went on ahead in 2017.

It was a good life - all 88 years of it. Dwayne had/has six siblings: (deceased: Delores (Lane) Lee, Roger (JoAnne), Steven), and Wally (Sue), and surviving: Joan (Dick) Mattick and Margery (Don) Laugen) and is survived by sixteen nieces and nephews.

Dwayne is survived by three children (Laura Renee, Roric Robert, and Kendall Harold, and five grandchildren (Laura and Jim Knorr's Clarissa, Kendric and Jason, and Kendall and Lara's Justin and Alyssa).

A service will be planned for a later time. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Cottey College, Edna M Fink scholarship, Dwayne established at Cottey.edu/give or Cottey College, Institutional Advancement, 1000 W Austin Blvd, Nevada MO 64772

Condolences

"Beautifully written tribute to a wonderful man!! I first got to know Dwayne when he worked for the Department of Agriculture. I was teaching Botany and Horticulture and he was a fabulous asset. He will be missed by so many and our prayers and hugs go out to all his family. Blessings!!"

Stephie Liska

"God bless you all, he is in God grace."

Jani Thomason Jones.

"My deepest sympathy to the Knorr family. Dwayne was an exceptional man, who accomplished so much."

Lynn Stevens

"What a gentleman, wonderfully eccentric, bright, responsible, and loving. We will miss him! But he left a rich legacy."

Odus and Diana

"Your Dad &Grandpa had kind heart and good man. I will miss his smiley face and his since of humor! I am so sorry for your loss. May he RIP!"

Holly Kruper

"We had many good times with Dwayne and Edna. We always felt like they were a part of our family as we were of theirs. Dwayne was a very special person who knew what he stood for and what he wanted to share with everyone."

Evelyn & Stan Settles

"Condolences to all of Dwayne’s loved ones. Dwayne came into my life four or five years ago as he expressed a interest in abolishing capital punishment. We shared some good conversations over coffee. I enjoyed his company and will miss him."

Dan Peitzmeyer

"I will miss Dwayne..i loved his energy "

Wendy Sevlie

"I am so glad that I knew Dwayne. What a fine man. You are all nestled in my thoughts and prayers. To live in the hearts of those we leave behind is to never die."

Al Batt

"I just saw Dwayne's obit in the newspaper. I met Dwayne when I was chair of the Democrats in Tempe back in 1998. He was one of the best activists. He would gather petition signatures, attend events, and most importantly write good letters that would make it into the newspaper. We kept in touch and I would occasionally see him around Tempe. He was a good man, and I will never forget him. Sorry for your loss but know that he made a difference."

Philip Amorosi

"I will miss seeing Dwayne on Christmas Bird Counts. He was such a good birder and always so energetic and willing to get involved. He was a kind soul."

Krys Hammers, Desert Rivers Audubon

"Dwayne and Roger discovered my husband Clayton as a relative and we enjoyed meeting him along with Edna and sister Marge. We have since kept up through Christmas cards even after Clayton passed away. I deeply appreciated that. My deepest sympathies to your family. "

Darlene Fink

" We were neighbors with Dwayne and Edna and knew them to be fine people. They were wonderful and principled people and we were so fortunate to live next door to them. We will miss them so much. Gray Cavender and Nancy Jurik"

Nancy Jurik and Gray Cavender

"It was always such a pleasure to get a few minutes of time with Mr. Fink at church gatherings and watch his eyes light up when we would talk about nature or science. He never lost his youthful enthusiasm for these subjects and it was always a wonderful inspiration and reminder for myself. Cindy and I are very sorry for your loss."

Jeff and Cindy


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