Dr. Bruce L. Wing

1938 - 2016

We would like to convey that Dr. Bruce L. Wing, son of Morris Wing and Ruth Hartstock, born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on August 7, 1938, passed on the evening of December 8, 2016.
Dr. Bruce L. Wing worked with NOAA as an American Fisheries Society certified fisheries scientist for 49 years. During his tenure at NOAA, his research provided data critical to understanding fluctuations in important stocks of marine resources. He also frequently reflected fondly on his time as Antarctic researcher, and he was a TA at Stanford University.
Dr. Bruce L. Wing contributed his lifetime's body of research and study of Alaska's fisheries, marine mammals, and oceanography as well as his rare books to the University of Alaska and Stanford University. He was lauded by the University of Alaska as "Alaska's very own oceanographer."
Dr. Bruce L. Wing was also a dedicated humanitarian who served the community of Juneau through the Lions Club for 51 in various positions including, the Treasurer, Secretary of the Joint Sight Conservation Committee, and the lead person on the Lion's Holly sales. As a Lion's Club member, he received numerous awards for his provision of grants, eye glasses, and wheelchairs. The awards include: the First Lion Award, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, the Life Member Award, the 50 Year Monarch Chevron Award, and the Silver Centennial Lion Award. The highest of these was the Chevron award.
In addition to trips to the Arctic, conducting research, and his humanitarian interests, Dr. Bruce L. Wing had a passion for, hunting, hiking, boating, and fishing. King Salmon Bay was his favorite place to fish as a lifetime member of the Matson club.
He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1956, earned his Bachelor's in Zoology from San Diego State College in 1960 and his PH.D. in Biological Oceanography in 1976.
He is survived by his daughter, Rena Sims; son-in-law, Leonard Sims; 12 grandchildren and their spouses: Leonard Sims, Jr., Alejandra Sims, Sarita Knull, Daniel Knull, Josef Sims, Britain Sims, Nicole Robinson-Wells, Travis Wells, Nathel Sims, Calista Sims, Sarah Freeman, Delina Sims, Samantha Sims, Crystal Sims, John Sims, and Matthew Sims; a host of great grandchildren; his sister, Linda Dimmick, his sister, Beth Dost; his brother-in-law, Donald Dost; his niece, Patricia Dost-Anderson; and his nephew, David Dost.
Dr. Bruce L. Wing loved and was proud of his sister Beth and Don's long-lasting marriage, and proud of the children they raised. Beth requested the following to be conveyed.
Bruce was my one and only brother. He was always away and educating himself and others on the workings of nature and science. I missed him then and will miss him forever. I wish to greatly thank the people and the community of Juneau, Auke Bay and most of the state of Alaska for opening their hearts to Bruce with friendship, care, and a sense of family that we were not able to do down here in the lower states. I truly believe Bruce made his mark in improving the world and in teaching others to do the same. Thank you all for honoring my brother. He was a good guy!
Dr. Bruce L. Wing used to call the Sims family his honorary family, until adopting Rena Sims, and then he began calling Rena Sims his ""brat child"", who took his family name. He attended PTA meetings, high school, college, and military graduations, and sponsored one to become a Fishery Biologist, and taught biology from home. He was very interested in their day-to-day lives, and inspired them to reach for their dreams. He was the patriarch of the family.
Dr. Bruce L. Wing also adored his only daughter, Rena Sims, and the accompanying 12 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren; and became Father and Grandfather of a tribe. He celebrated completing his bucket list of adventures. Some of his bucket list included formally adopting Rena, a trip to the Bahamas, going to Disney World with his family, sturgeon fishing on the Fraser River, celebrating his 78th birthday with his sister Beth, seeing his sister Linda, and enjoying more good bourbon.
Dr. Bruce L. Wing, in his typical stubborn fashion, signed off in his own way – at home, in his daughter's arms. He was an extraordinary man, and will be loved and missed by all of his family, especially his grandchildren, as he was the only grandfather they ever knew. His family will always love and cherish their time together.
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m., followed by a catered dinner by Abby's Kitchen at 7:15 p.m, on December 22, 2016, at Valley Church, 9741 Mendenhall Loop Road. Everyone is invited.
A special thanks to NOAA's Michele and Bob, the Lion's Club's Mike and Nancy, Valley Church, Family Practice, Dr. Malter, Hanss his personal nurse, family that helped in the care for him, Dustin, his main care provider, and Veronica & Perry.