Madeline Finck

Memorial Celebration of Life Services for Madeline Finck, 85, of Lenox, who passed away Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at her home, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Arising Methodist Church in Lenox. Visitation will be held 4-7 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.

Memorials may be given in Madeline’s name. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under “Obituaries.” Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox where we ‘Celebrate Life.’

Madeline was born March 25, 1938, to parents Doris (Hardaway) and Paul Winkelmanon at her grandparents farm in Adaza.

Madeline attended country school for first and second grades. She continued her education at Churdan schools, graduating from Churdan High School in 1956, where she was active in band, chorus and 4-H. She also enjoyed fishing with her dad and both grandpas. Madeline received her teaching certificate from Simpson College in 1958. After graduation, she started teaching third grade in Greenfield.

She met her future husband in Orient while stopped on the side of the road with a friend from college. Dean had stopped to ask if they needed help, and he offered them a ride, which they turned down (Madeline later told him that her parents had told her not to get into a car with a stranger). Madeline and Dean were married on Feb. 26, 1959, in Greenfield.

Shortly thereafter they moved to California where Dean reported for duty in the Army. They moved back to Greenfield in September of the same year, then to Mount Ayr in 1966, with their final stop being Lenox in 1968, where they found their forever home and resided until her passing. Their union was blessed with five children: Dottie, Connie, Craig, Mark and Tim.

Madeline stayed busy with taking care of their home and her children’s activities, along with her work at Country Boys Elevator in Lenox during harvest season. She also did the books at Prescott Grain & Supply until they sold the business in 1985 and worked for Office Machines in Creston until her retirement in 2003.

Madeline’s faith was important to her, and she openly shared her faith and the Good News of Jesus with others. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School, singing in choir and participating in Bible studies. Madeline and Dean went on many mission trips to Red Bird Mission in Kentucky. They were also active in the Walk to Emmaus program.

Madeline enjoyed all of her kids’ and grandkids’ activities, from sports to music to drama. She was an avid sports fan. Her favorite was women’s basketball and she enjoyed many trips to the women’s college tournaments. She was a big fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Los Angeles Dodgers. Madeline was also a genius in the kitchen, with her family and friends joyously benefiting from her many cookies, rolls, breads and pies.

Preceding Madeline in death were her parents, Paul and Doris Winkelman; Dean’s parents, Henry and Leila Finck and her brothers, Duane and Robert Winkelman.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 64.5 years, Dean; her children: Dottie (Kelvin) Johnson of Bellwood, Illinois, Connie Finck of The Woodlands, Texas, Craig (Kathy) Finck of Owasso, Oklahoma, Mark (Karen) Finck of Beresford, South Dakota, and Tim Finck of Dunkerton; 12 grandkids; 12 great-grandkids; her sisters: Pauline (Royce) Lacey of Austin, Texas, Arlene (Bob) Berns of Jefferson and Frances (Larry) Nielsen of Ankeny; brother, John Winkelman of Lincoln, Nebraska, and sisters-in-law: Janice Winkelman of Chaska, Minnesota, Shirley Finck and Norma Finck; many nieces and nephews.

Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’