Vernon Zink

Vernon “Vern” D. Zink , age 84, of Oxford, passed away Friday, July 1, 2022, at his home surrounded by his family. Vern was born in Harrisville to Charles and Eva (McQuillan) Zink on December 6, 1937. He graduated from Montello High School in 1956, and married Flora (Podoll) Bruchs at Trinity Lutheran Church in Packwaukee on November 10, 1973. After high school, Vern went to California and worked for 10 years as a LA County dam tender before returning to Wisconsin. Vern ultimately worked as a machinist for Mercury Marine for 30 years, before retiring in 2000.

Before moving to California, Vern was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing, turtling, and hunting. After marrying, Vern, Flora Mae, and their kids enjoyed camping, hunting trips out west, fishing, and boating. Flora Mae and Vern went to the Hodag Country Music Festival for many years and greatly enjoyed music together. Vern was a talented woodworker, making chests, prized gun cabinets, wooden toys, and many other things that grace the homes of his children and grandchildren. In later years, Vern enjoyed his grandchildren, garden, and yard, and he could regularly be seen sitting out in the yard by the fire with Flora Mae.

Vern was a quiet, good man who was admired by his family. He will be greatly missed.

Vern is survived by his wife of 48 years, Flora Mae, seven children: Rick (Raquel), Ron (Sarah), and Tony Zink, Randy (Susie) Bruchs, Michael (Amy) Bruchs, Peggy (Bruchs) Wegner (Brian Pond), and Sheila (Lansing) Tyler as well as son-in-law, Kevin Wegner.  He is also survived by more than 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a sister, Jean Fredrick.

Vern is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Donald, his sisters: Beverly Schmitz and Arvilla Slabosheski, and two grandsons: Brendan Wegner and Jordan Kamenick.

A graveside service for Vernon Zink will be held at the New Chester Cemetery on Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Larry Sheppard presiding.   A celebration of his life will follow at the Oxford Pub N Grub, all are welcome to attend.  In lieu of flowers, donations are preferred to St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 330 E. Vallette St., Oxford, WI 53952 or Budda-Box Fight Against Cancer, Inc., PO Box 591, Montello, WI  53949.

The family would like to thank the staff at Agrace Hospice for their kind and considerate care of Vern.

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Oxford and Montello is honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com