Allan Frederick Fink

Allan Frederick Fink, 89, of Cost, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021 in the home where he was born on June 15, 1931, in the community of Needa near Cost, Texas, where he spent his life farming the land he loved. Allan was born to Albert John Fink and Annette “Nettie” Lindemann Fink. He married Mary Ellen Niebuhr on October 1, 1953 in Austin. Mary Ellen passed away on March 29, 1971, Allan married his wife of 48 years Elizabeth “Betty” Siepmann on Feb. 5, 1972 in the Monthalia United Methodist Church.

Allan believed that God gave us all that we have, and it is our responsibility to be good stewards and leave the land in better condition than when we received it. As a Christian he believed that we should give to God above the “tithe” and this should be ‘off the top,” the first fruits, not what was leftover at the end.

Allan started school at “Needa” where he and his sister and two brothers walked to school.

Transferring into Gonzales Schools, he graduated in 1949 and attended college at SWTSTC, San Marcos, for one year. Farming was in his DNA and that is what he did for the next 70 years, raising cattle, sheep, and hogs, and farming corn, milo, wheat and hay, using the produce to feed the livestock.

While Allan did not have degrees after his name, he regularly attended educational programs to keep up with the latest farming practices. He promoted those seminars produced by the Texas Farm Bureau, the Gonzales County Extension Service, Luling Foundation and other farm organizations. Allan believed in protecting and improving the land God gave him. He spent many hours reshaping areas of erosion, planting improved grasses and cross fencing the pasture lands which allowed him to graze many more head of cattle per acre.

Allan was a life member of the Monthalia United Methodist Church where he served on the Trustee Committee, including chairman of the Cemetery Committee. and Sunday School Superintendent. Allan was a charter member of the Gonzales Young Farmers Assoc., a charter and organizing member of the Gonzales County Farm Bureau, Pioneer Village, and the Independent Cattleman’s Assoc. He loved volunteering at Pioneer Village where he told the school children how things were “back in the day”. Allan received the Texas Farm Bureau Pioneer Award for exceptional and pioneering service to the organization in 2017. He received the Resident Farmer Conservation Award, Region III; Area VII Outstanding Member State Young Farmer Org. 2001; and in 1957 received the Star Young Farmer award.

Allan is survived by his adoring family, wife: Elizabeth “Betty” Fink of Cost; daughters: Ellen Sue Lancaster, of Cost, Carolyn Anne Barthels “William” of Gonzales, and Laura Jane Walker Wetz “Michael” of Luling; son: George Allan Fink “Joy” of Cost; sister: Annette “Lady” Pfeil “Leslie” of Port Lavaca; grandchildren: Sandy Kaye Wells, Cole Lancaster “Carly”, Albert “A.J.” Fink, Lynnea Fink, Clint Barthels “Chelsea” Chayce Barthels, Cayla McMahan “John,” and Morris Wetz; great-grandchildren: Tyler, Matthew, Jack, Kinsley, Emma, Corbin, Gage, Kinslee, Logan, Devyn, and Camryn; sisters-in-law: Norma Jean Fink and Polly Fink of Gonzales. He was preceded in death by his first wife: Mary Ellen Fink; his parents; and his brothers: William and Marvin Fink.

The family received friends on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021 in Seydler-Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services were be held Friday, Jan. 29, 2021 in the Monthalia United Methodist Church with Pastor Paul Smith officiating. Interment followed in the Monthalia Methodist Cemetery.

Pallbearers: David Pfeil, Kenneth Fink, Brian Fink, David Lindemann, Tom Lindemann, and Lorne Dale Barta. Honorary pallbearers are member of the Monthalia Methodist Men’s Chorus. Memorials may be made to the Methodist Children’s Home, 1111 Herring Ave, Waco, Texas 76708-9903 or Gonzales Healthcare Systems Foundation, P.O. Box 587, Gonzales, Texas 78629. Friends may sign the guest register and leave their condolences by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.

Due to current CDC, State and local mandates, protective measures regarding social distancing, limited attendance capacity and the use of personal protective masks will be required for the visitation, church service and graveside burial rite. Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home, 906 St. Paul St., Gonzales, Texas 78629.