Derek E. Cink

Derek Cink, 48, of Britt passed away on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Derek Cink will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 139 3rd Street South East in Britt with Father Andrew Marr officiating.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, December 17, 2021, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Britt, with a Rosary and Scriptural Wake Service beginning at 7:00 PM.

Derek was born on December 8th, 1973, in Britt, Iowa, the son of James and Jeanne (Green) Cink. Derek was raised in Britt and graduated from West Hancock High School with the class of 1992.

When Derek was a little boy, he rode along in his dad’s semi. At the age of 8, Derek learned how to drive an 8 row combine and at the age of 10 was driving a semi. Derek had the amazing ability to go somewhere one time and remember how to get there again, even if it was years later. Some of Derek’s greatest memories were when his dad would lay on the floor and play farm with him. Derek and his siblings, along with the neighborhood kids, would play kick ball in the front yard for hours. One of those kids was Derek's best friend since 2nd grade, Kerry Hudspeth. Derek and Kerry have had a lot of good times and adventures throughout the years, some stories that can be told and others that shouldn’t be.

Derek started working at a young age helping local farmers, and during his high school years became a cook at the Red Rooster. Right out of high school, Derek did millwork and construction, then worked at Winnebago for 4 years as a certified welder. Derek and his brother, Darrin started a construction business, 3-D Construction. He then had the great opportunity to build custom motorcycles from the ground up for Red Horse, completing about 300 motorcycles. Once Red Horse closed its doors, Derek went to Cummins Filtration in Lake Mills, IA where he was a forklift driver until they closed their doors in 2010. Derek then attended college at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA where he received his AA degree in social science majoring in electrical technologies, earning a 4.0 GPA. Right out of college, Derek worked as an electrician, earning his Journeyman’s with Hunt’s Electric for 5 years. Derek finally found his dream job working at Jones’ Machinery/Original Saw, where he was a sales and service technician covering 6 states.

At the age of 3, he fell in love with racing. He was the only child to ever sit in the seat of his Uncle D.A.’s sprint car. At the age of 13, he had the opportunity to go to Knoxville, IA, the sprint car capital of the world, to be on the pit crew for D.A.’s 1A sprint car with driver Terry McCarl. In 1988, Derek was once again on the pit crew, but this time it was for D.A's modified race car in Mason City, IA with driver Dean Schroder. In 1994, Derek and Darrin built Derek’s 1st red stock car, number 7C. Darrin drove Derek’s car a few times and totaled it at the end of the season. Darrin made up for it though and the following year repaired it, making it Derek’s favorite car, white and blue with pink lettering, number 7C. In 1996, Derek and Darrin put a new body on the stock car, and Derek ran it until he won a feature and then ran out of money. This was the perfect time for a break, as Derek's son, Ashten, was born in November of that year. Derek wasn't quite finished with racing though, and in 1999 he got the opportunity to drive a modified for Jon Hiscocks, number 3C. Derek made rookie of the year and met Mandy, the love of his life. Focusing on family and work, Derek never got in a race car again. Not able to give it up all the way, he continued to race with D.A. as his crew chief for the 1A sprint car in Jackson, MN, Fairmont, MN, Knoxville, IA, Fort Dodge, IA, Algona, IA, Mason City, IA, Cresco, IA, Belmond, IA and Britt, IA. Derek crew chiefed all 3 classes of D.A.’s sprint cars: the 305, 360, and 410. Derek’s dream has always been to get behind the wheel of one of those sprint cars, as he had a natural ability to effortlessly drive a race car. Fortunately, Derek recently got the opportunity to sit in the 360-sprint car that he and his son, Preston, worked on for the last few seasons. The love of racing has been passed on to Preston who will keep that passion going. D.A. has not only been a mentor to Derek, but he was also like a second father. The bond and love they had for each other and racing is unmistakable.

While racing has always been in Derek's heart, he recently found a new talent for steak grilling competitions. He founded Bad Boys Steak and BBQ and was working towards his golden ticket to go to Texas for the world steak competition.

On February 14, 2001, Derek married Miranda (Mandy) Hacker. Into this union Mandy brought 3 boys: Dillon, Adam, and Preston; and Derek brought his son Ashten. Derek and Mandy also fell in love with Hailey Kabrick, who lived across the street. Since the day they met her they have thought of her as their daughter. Derek and Mandy created a home with love and laughter the best they knew how. Derek would always ask Mandy, “Why do you love me?” And she would reply, "Because you always know how to make me smile." Many weekends you could find them playing cards and games with their best friends, Rocky and Kristy Meyerhoff, and their children Ashley, Damion, and Vanessa. Derek took his family on vacations to Florida and California. He enjoyed camping with friends and family. One of the best camping experiences was last year when the kids and grandkids were all together. Derek’s granddaughters are one of the loves of his life with him calling each his “little princess”. Derek loved being called grandpa and was hoping to have more time to watch them grow. Derek loved going on vacations and just spending time with Deb, Darla, Dean, and Darrin. Every July, Derek, Mandy, Darla and Dean would choose a destination to go on vacation together. Derek has been on many cruises with Mandy and his sisters; and they had another cruise planned for February 2022 when Derek and Mandy would have celebrated their 21st anniversary.

Derek was a very hard worker, and he made sure his family never had to worry about anything. One of the ways he made sure of that was to try to pass on his ability to literally fix anything. He taught his sons how to do construction work when they built the garage and remodeled the bathroom and the kitchen in their family home; skills they would use when they had their own families. Derek always said family comes first, and loved getting together with all of his aunts, uncles and cousins. He was very quick-witted, could make anyone laugh, and never knew a stranger as they would always become friends. Derek wants everyone to remember the fun times and the smiles he had with each of you.

Those to cherish and honor Derek’s memory are: wife Mandy Cink of Britt, IA, sons: Dillon (Sharayah) Hacker of Nevada, IA, Adam Hermanson of Huxley, IA, Ashten Cink and Preston Cink of Britt, IA, daughter Hailey Kabrick of Britt, IA, granddaughters: Chloee, Arya and Emmorie Hacker, father James Cink of Britt, IA, sisters Debra Cink of Britt, IA, and Darla Diab (Dean Hill) of Sanford, FL, and brother Darrin Cink (Jennifer Johnson) of Kinston, NC, nephew Brandon (Amanda) Cink of Forest City, IA, nieces Morgan Sherwood of Sterling, CO, and Courtney (Darren) Barry of Ceresco, NE, and 6 great-nephews and nieces: Diesel and Cambrie Cink, Luke and Rahne Sherwood, Kennedy and McKinley Barry, his mother in-law Nadine Hacker, best friend, Kerry Hubspeth, and many amazing aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

He is preceded in death by his mother Jeanne (Green) Cink, grandparents William and Anna Green, Edward and Gladys Cink, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

"Take time out for family, family is everything.” - Derek