Irvin Rink

Rink, Irvin Edmund, son of Edmund Rink and Christina Froelich, was born on July 13, 1918 in Allen, Dixon County, Nebraska, died on August 4, 1943 in Russell Islands at age 25.

Irvin and his parents moved to Kansas in 1929 to live on a farm, where Irvin attended the Maize Public School and graduated from Maize High School in 1935. He pursued his education at Kansas University and graduated as a Petroleum Geologist in 1941. During his senior year at the university he entered the Civilian Pilot Training Course, and received his license as a private pilot. He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves in April of 1941 while attending the university. Upon his graduation from the university he was assigned to Fairfax Field, Kansas City, Kansas for his primary flight training. In August 1941, he was transferred to the Naval Air Base at Corpus Christi, Texas and received his commission as an Ensign on May 1, 1942. In June 1942, he was transferred to the Naval Air Base at Norfolk, Virginia, where he was stationed until November 1942 when he was assigned to oversea carrier duties. In March 1943, he was commissioned a Lieutenant (Junior Grade). This rank he held until the time of his death on August 4, 1943. He was a member of the Salem Evangelical Church of Wichita, Kansas, and was Master Mason of Unity Lodge N. 273 A.F. & A.M., Clearwater, Kansas.

Lieutenant Rink was declared Missing in Action on August 4, 1943, when as a member of the navy fighting squadron 27, based on the carrier USS Suwannee, failed to return to his temporary base in the Russell Island from an escort mission in the Solomon Islands.

A Memorial Service conducted by Pastor Brent Warkentine will be 10:00 a.m., Monday, April 16, 2018 at Broadway Mortuary. Burial of the urn will follow at the Maize Park Cemetery, where full military honors will be offered. Services will be conducted by Broadway Mortuary.