Visitation will be prior to services from 1-3 PM at the Drexel Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Drexel Lions Club 4th of July Fireworks. Messages and memories for the family may be left at www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com
Mullinax Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. | Butler
Mullinax Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. provides funeral, memorial, personalization, aftercare, pre-planning and cremation services in Butler & Drexel, Mo.
www.mullinaxfuneralhome.com
Joe was born on February 6, 1956 in Paola, Kansas to Ernest and Anna Marie Fink.
He resided in Drexel for his entire life where he attended Drexel High School and excelled in football, basketball, track and baseball. He loved reliving his “Glory Days,” especially when he was wearing #40 and telling the story about the State Championship game where he scored 3 touchdowns and rushed for 105 yards, those stories kept getting better and better as he got older.
Joe and Dixie were united in marriage on May 20, 1977 and have since built quite the life with each other and their children Amy and Shane. Joe and Dixie loved to spend their days doing chores and tending to the cattle with their dog Biscuit. One of his favorite things was to have someone ride along with him so that he could show off his “girls.” He was very proud of them and if you were getting the tour you most likely went home with a bruised arm. He would nudge you and say “look at them, don’t they look good, look at them” When he was not tending to his “girls” you could find him in the hayfield baling hay all around and when he would unroll a bale to feed he would let you know “that’s a good-lookin bale.”
Joe had a big personality and his toothless smile and laugh was contagious. A few of the things he loved were Dr. Pepper, Dixie’s fried fish and sweet tea, The Weather Channel, Rock N’ Roll music, popping wheelies, hitting rocks with a wooden bat, fishing, going to Kingsville, making a loop and looking for High Rack (the big buck of the area), taking naps, Big Ed’s jokes, reading Farm Talk, retelling his favorite Russel Scott joke about the old bull and the young bull and most recently eating chocolate pie with David Still and catching up on gossip.
Joe’s proudest moment came when his name was upgraded to Papa. He loved his family and was absolutely head-over-heels in love with his grandkids. Joe excelled at everything he put his mind to and being a grandfather was the cherry on top. He had the Papa-life figured out. After spending his days choring you could find him and Dixie in the old green chairs watching their grandchildren play. He’d tell you if you wanna be a good Papa, the key is to always show up with candy in your pockets and Dr. Pepper in the truck, take ‘em to the barn and let ‘em cuss, let them play in the mud puddle, teach them everything you know about farming and cows, always end up with the Old Maid, tell their parents you “just assume they stay all-night and don’t be in a rush to come get ‘em”, pick them up from school in your slick dually chore truck and take ‘em straight to the Dollar Store for toys, and most importantly NEVER, ever say NO, that’s Grandma’s job.
Joe is preceded in death by his grandparents Bert and Cecil Fink, and Charles and Mary Ethel Hartman. He is survived by his wife, Dixie Fink; children Amy Basore and husband Tyson, and Shane Fink and Wife Jennifer; grandchildren Claire, Gunnar, and Cole; his dog Biscuit; parents Ernie and Ree Fink; sister Lorrie Cook and husband Bryon; as well as many nieces and nephews.
