Elmer Eyink passed away peacefully on July 25 at his home in Coldwater at the age of 89.

Born in Sharpsburg, the second of eight children, he grew up on a farm where he developed a life-long love affair with hard work. He left the farm to join the Navy during the Korean War where he served on the USS Bairoko aircraft carrier.

After the war, his ship was assigned to Operation Castle Bravo at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands where in 1954 the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Defense detonated a series of thermonuclear weapon design tests including a 15 megaton bomb 1,000 times as powerful as the U.S. nuclear weapons used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Traveling at full speed, it took his ship many hours to escape the nuclear fallout, and Elmer's service in the Navy was extended by a year because the ship was too radioactive to port. He decommissioned the ship and was among the last men off and at the time of his death was one of the last surviving shipmates. After the Navy, he started a 38-year career at Reynolds and Reynolds in Celina where he held a variety of positions including interim plant manager.

On October 8, 1959 he married Marie Mohlman Eyink, his beloved wife of 61 years, with whom he raised five children in Coldwater. Before and after his retirement at the age of 62 until his death, he did volunteer work including much-appreciated service at The Center for Neurological Development, Mercer Health Hospital, Coldwater Public Schools and Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He was a member of several organizations including the VFW, the American Legion and the Knights of Columbus.

Throughout his life he enjoyed traveling with his family, boating and fishing, bowling and golf, watching the Cincinnati Reds, and was a talented woodworker. He was well-known for his trademark response "Always good and some days better!" which he continued to use until his last breath.

Elmer leaves behind his loving wife Marie, his children Karen (Ron) Barlage of St. Henry, Diane (Tim) Rindler of St. Henry, Debra (James) Kemper of Celina, Greg (Michelle) of Los Angeles and Jason of Cincinnati, his 12 grandchildren Katelyn (Evan) Heusinkveld, Brittany (Josh) Wenning, Trey (Claire) Barlage, Jarrett Barlage, Troy (Renee) Rindler, Leah (Shippen) Royer, Adam (Brittney) Rindler, Austin (Danielle) Kemper, Jacob Kemper, Stephanie (Daniel) Stang, Zachary (Katey) Kemper and Tristan Eyink and his 5 great-grandchildren Andrew, Emerson, James, Carter and Lucas plus more on the way. He is also survived by three sisters Marie Eyink, Alvina Fox and Virginia (Mike) Burd and his in-laws Marlene Eyink, Henry Mohlman, Loretta (Del) Albright and Frank (Virginia) Mohlman.

He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Caroline Heitkamp Eyink, his brothers John (Lorraine) and Victor, and his sisters Rita (Gerald) Buening and Mildred (Earl) Heckler and his sisters-in-law Norma and Mary Lou Mohlman and his brother-in-law Paul Fox.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Coldwater. Burial with military rites will follow in St. Elizabeth Cemetery, Coldwater.

Friends may call on Wednesday from 3 to 8 PM and on Thursday from 9 to 10 AM at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.