Carolyn was born on November 8, 1951 at the Sibley Hospital in Sibley, Iowa to her parents Orville R Brink and Pauline E (Rueter) Brink. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Ocheyedan, Iowa.

Carolyn graduated from Ocheyedan High School in 1969 and entered Nursing Education at St. Luke's School of Nursing, Sioux City, Iowa in the fall, where she graduated the spring of 1972.  Carolyn was married to Terry Pauling on July 28th, 1972 and then worked at the Osceola County Hospital through 1991.  Carolyn attended South Dakota State University in 1989-90 graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing.

In 1991 Carolyn and Terry moved to Indianola, Iowa and became members of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.  She worked at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines from 1991-1996 in the Cardiac Care unit while attending Drake University where she obtained her Masters Degree in Nursing.  Not finished with schooling, she transferred to Grandview College in 1996 to begin teaching nursing students "Critical Thinking". Her mantra was the nurse is the buffer between the patient and the doctor, so make sure the patient's condition is monitored and give advice to the Dr.  At the same time she began working on her PhD through a Truro University Online Course, which she completed in 2006 with a Degree in Nursing Education.

In 2016, 4 staff members of the nursing program retired from Grandview University taking 113 years of Grandview experience with them.  Those four made sure they kept up with each other on a monthly basis from that point on.

Carolyn loved to cross stitch.  She was always working on a project for someone's birthday, anniversary or just for fun.  Those gifts to others brought many smiles to those who received them.

Carolyn is survived by her Husband Terry, brother Jim Brink, Nieces Jamee Leigh, Lindsey Collett and Shantele Brink. Grandnieces Kiley Collett and Melody Collett and Grandnephew Don James Collett.  She was preceded in death by her parents Orville R and Pauline E Brink, her grandparents; and grandnephew Austin Hensley.

Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, August 2, 2025 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Indianola. Visitation will be held 2 hours prior to service from 9 to 11 a.m.

A Graveside Service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, August 4 in the Ocheyedan Township Cemetery, Ocheyedan, IA.

Memorial contributions may be made in Carolyn's memory to Iowa Association of Nursing Students (IANS) to go towards a scholarship fund.