DeVon Wayne Linn

 

October 9, 1929 – March 31, 2023

 

DeVon Wayne Linn, age 93 years, passed Friday, March 31, 2023 in Ashland, OR. He was born Oct 9, 1929 in Estherville, Iowa to parents Ward Ira and Mary Belle (Warrington) Linn. They moved to Fairmont, MN where he graduated high school in 1947. He was in the US Army Signal Corps from 1947 to 1949, then attended Mankato State Teacher’s College where he majored in Biology and Chemistry. It was during college that he met Fae Anderson of East Chain MN, his wife of 70 years. They raised three children; Jay Linn (MI), Doug Linn (WY) and Jennifer (Linn) White (WA). They have 5 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

 

Wayne received a masters degree from Oregon State University and his PhD from Utah State. He taught at Southern Oregon University from 1964 to 1994, including serving as Biology Dept Chair from 1969 to 1973. He retired as the Coordinator of M.S degree, Environmental Education. Teaching allowed Wayne to hold summer jobs at Rocky Mountain National Park as a wildlife biologist, Grand Teton National Park as a fisheries biologist and at Crater Lake National Park as a Naturalist. Sabbatical leaves afforded opportunities to work in Malawi, Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer (1973-1975) and at the Univ of Swaziland. Africa as a professor of Biology (1983-1985). From his time in Malawi he was honored and humbled to have an aquarium fish from Lake Malawi named after him – Nimbochromis linni.

 

His love of travel took he and Fae all over the world, visiting 30 countries and RV’ing all over the US – making it to 47 states. They loved all outdoor activities including camping, hiking, fishing, biking and swimming, which they shared with their children and grandchildren.