David Sheldon Winn

David Sheldon Winn Jr.   passed away peacefully on March 25, 2024.  He was born to D. Shelly and Florence L. Page Winn in Safford, Arizona on February 3, 1937.   He is survived by his wife, Deanna Daines and their children D. Bret (Pam), Garth A. (Melissa) and LaDawn (David Thorpe).  He has ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren.   His sister Louise (Bruce Humberstone) also survives him.  He was preceded in death by his son Michael Scott.   

David graduated from Ben Lomond High School in Ogden, Utah then attended Utah State University where he spent a summer on fire lookout at Mahoney Peak and the next summer as a smoke jumper, jumping out of airplanes onto fires.  

At USU he met Deanna.   They were married in the Logan Temple on December 20, 1957.  Both are lifelong Aggie fans and have enjoyed a long and happy relationship with the university.  

Upon graduation in Range management and R.O.T.C. where he was a captain of the rifle team, David was commissioned into the Army as a distinguished military graduate.  He attended flight school in Alabama and was licensed to fly fixe wing aircraft. His most memorable station was flying border patrol on the East-West German Border.  He later became dual certified, adding helicopter pilot to his list of qualifications.  

His years in service to his country were extremely important to him.  He loved being an American and the commitment it required to maintain our freedom.  

When he left the military service, he returned to USU and earned a teaching certificate.  He had been an instructor pilot and found it rewarding to share his knowledge and experience with others.  He taught biology and math at Richfield High School and Roosevelt Jr. High in Salt Lake.  

He then returned to both his passions studying the environment and USU earning a PhD. In Wildlife Management and worked for the Forest Service as a Wildlife Biologist studying the flora and fauna of the western United States.  

He enjoyed the marvels of nature and worked hard to preserve the balance that he enjoyed for future generations.  His favorite projects were with the elk migration in Idaho, sage grouse populations in Colorado and grizzlies bear monitoring in Yellowstone area.  He concluded his career as a collaborator at the College of Natural Resources at USU providing federal research funding and assistance to graduate students to better understand the complexities of nature.   Throughout his life he sought to protect the marvels of nature for future generations and to foster his wonder of the natural world in others.  

One of his greatest pleasures came from spending time at his mountain cabin in the High Uintas where he could fish, ride his horses and enjoy his family and dogs.

He was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints service wherever needed.   He and Deanna were service missionaries at the Logan Family Search Library for many years.  

He will be buried without a service at the Logan Cemetery.  A private family memorial will be held at his cabin this summer.