Jennifer Brincks passed away on Friday, July 25, 2025, after battling ovarian cancer.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, August 16, 2025 at Carroll First Church in Carroll. Private family burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery.
A visitation will be held from 9-10:15 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the church prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the church for a later designation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Jennifer’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on February 5, 1955, and raised in Carroll, Iowa, Jennifer lived with her grandmother, Oma, until the age of five. During this time, they developed a very special bond. Jennifer continued to visit Oma every weekend until sixth grade, and their magnetic relationship endured until Oma’s passing in 1983. Jennifer was the youngest of the three Balk sisters—Monica, Sylvia, and Jennifer—each born within three years of one another.
She graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School with the class of 1973 and pursued higher education at Texas Woman’s University alongside her sister Sylvia. Jennifer studied photography and dance for one semester before returning to Carroll.
True to her adventurous and curious spirit, Jennifer held a variety of jobs while raising her children. These roles ranged from working at her father’s photo shop, Balk and Son, to positions at General Electric, the Carroll Rec Center, and as a teller at Carroll County State Bank. Eventually, she discovered her true calling—teaching.
Jennifer became a non-traditional student while pregnant with her youngest daughter, Rachel. After obtaining her teaching license, she taught kindergarten at Mt. Carmel for six years, where she discovered a deep passion for special education. This passion led her to earn five separate endorsements in the field.
With these endorsements and her intuitive, vibrant personality, Jennifer made a lasting impact by spearheading multi-sensory, differentiated resource rooms at three Kuemper Catholic School buildings under the guidance of Mary Dobson—a first for Carroll.
Her teaching career spanned 31 years, including time at Fairview and Carroll Middle School. Throughout and beyond her teaching years, countless parents shared stories of how Jennifer had positively impacted their children’s lives. Her individualized lesson plans reflected her belief in each student’s uniqueness. She had a rare gift for seeing the world—and its people—through a rich and beautiful lens, finding harmony within chaos.
Jennifer constantly developed creative, student-centered ideas that challenged learners while nurturing their strengths. From cultivating a vegetable and flower garden to organizing numerous field trips, she built joyful, thriving classroom communities—often sprinkled with a touch of mischief for good measure.
Jennifer married her high school sweetheart, Darwin Brincks, on April 7, 1978, at St. Lawrence Parish. During their 46 years together, they raised three children and were blessed with five grandchildren whom Jennifer adored and lovingly spoiled. When not with her grandchildren, Jennifer and Darwin enjoyed traveling, attending concerts, and tackling new projects together. Her favorite trip was to Alaska in 2018, where they took a private flight over Mount Denali—a memory she cherished deeply.
Jennifer’s vibrant personality was unforgettable. Her wit and humor brought light to even life’s messiest moments. She had a rare ability to uplift those around her simply by being present.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Franziska Balk; her in-laws, Delbert and Delora Brincks; and her sister, Monica Balk Moen.
She is survived by her husband, Darwin; her children: Joseph Brincks (Angie), Alex Brincks (Emmy), and Rachel Werkmeister (Dakota); her sister, Sylvia Hanks; and her siblings-in-law: Dean Brincks (Barb), Dorothy Geister (Gary), and Donna Monson (Murray). Her cherished grandchildren are Olivia, Remington, and Emery Brincks, and Ellis and Sloane Werkmeister. She is also survived by her niece, Morgan Hanks (Sean); great-niece Asa and great-nephew Esca Buckley-Hanks; and her beloved companion, Miss Eddie.
