David W. Finke, age 84, of Glenwood, MN, died Friday, July 15, 2016, at Glacial Ridge Hospital.  Memorial services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, July 21 ^st , at Glenwood Lutheran Church, with Pastor Randy Chrissis officiating. Visitation will be at the church, one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will be in Vining Cemetery.  Arrangements are with Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home of Glenwood.

David Warren Finke, the son of Ervan and Alice (Bakken) Finke was born on April 23, 1932 in Vining, Minnesota, the youngest of seven children. He grew up in Vining, attending grade school there and high school in nearby Henning. He was baptized and confirmed at Vining Lutheran Church. His church, grade school and best friend's house were all within a block of his home in this small Scandinavian town which made for many enjoyable childhood memories.

He loved the car business, making his first sale for his father's "Finke Auto Sales" when he was 15. After graduating high school and working for local businesses, he entered the Army in November 1952 and served his country in Korea. There he was assigned to the base postal service, due to his experience assisting his father in the Vining post office and his expert typing skills. Just before he left for Korea, he met a cute first grade teacher at a dance near Parkers Prairie. He corresponded with Joyce Johnson throughout his time in the service. Their romance continued after he came home in September 1954 and attended the Minnesota School of Business for business management in downtown Minneapolis, MN. He completed the one year program and then worked as a salesman for Willis Jeep. He married Joyce on June 23, 1956 in International Falls, MN. The couple lived on Medicine Lake near his job and the school where she taught. She noted they spent many evenings driving around Twin Cities car dealerships while he commented on the pros and cons of each.

Soon David began searching for his own car business, finally finding a Ford dealership for sale in Glenwood. He opened Finke Ford Sales on Thanksgiving weekend in 1957. He built a successful dealership winning multiple Ford awards over the years and he expanded the business several times in its location near the fairgrounds. He sold Finke Ford in 1989. He spent the next years managing real estate investments, selling the occasional car, traveling, and enjoying winters in Arizona and summers at their cabin on Lake Stuart in Vining.

He supported his community in many ways but especially enjoyed Rotary and was a Paul Harris Fellow. Over the years he was also a Sunday school teacher, a church trustee, a member of Sons of Norway, a board member of the MN Auto Dealers Association and was involved with many other church and civic activities both in Glenwood and Vining. He will be remembered for his soft heart, love of family, church and country, sense of humor, deep ties to his Scandinavian heritage, large 6'4" stature and passion for all things chocolate. He was always grateful for the many blessings in his life.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Joyce; four children Jane (Robert) Beauchamp, St. Paul; Thomas (Rise), Pipestone; Peter (Darla), Staples; Matthew, Vining; grandchildren Elizabeth (Mike) Trautmiller, Patrick Finke, Melinda (Shane) Hollenbeck, Emily Finke, Jonathan (Erin) Finke, Ian (Brittany) Davy, Alec Davy, Ian and Alec's father Richard Davy, and Scott Beauchamp; great-grandchildren Avery and Silas Trautmiller, Micah Hollenbeck, and Ophelia Davy; sister-in-law Enid Finke and many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

David was preceded in death by his parents, infant siblings Mary and Ervan Jr.; brothers, Wesley, Leo "Wayne", Almore "Bobby" and sister, Donna Johnson.

"Mange tusen takk for alt." DWF