In Memoriam: Tim Wynn

Tim Wynn, Western's director of Facilities from 2001-2011, passed away on Dec. 13 at the age of 72.  In his years at Western, Wynn oversaw a period of unprecedented construction growth on campus, all with a near-legendary wit and the kind of easygoing personality that won him friends across campus.

WWU Vice President of Business and Financial Affairs Rich Van Den Hul remembered Wynn and his impact on Western fondly.

"Although he retired 10 years ago, many people at Western will recall Tim's great leadership of FM.  Tim oversaw the construction or reconstruction of several major buildings on campus," he said. "He developed strong relationships across the university and the greater community and will be remembered for his dedication to Western,  his support for his people in FM and for his wonderful sense of humor that were in his daily interactions and the 'Desk Notes' he shared with campus. He will be missed."

Wynn reflected on his time at Western and his role in helping grow the university in this video; the introduction to his obituary is below, with a link to the full obituary at the bottom.

 

Donald Timothy (Tim) Wynn, 72, passed peacefully to the Lord on December 13, 2020 at the University of Washington Medical Center. Born on October 12, 1948 in Akron, OH, to Donald Dewey and Mary Eleanor (Williamson) Wynn and raised in a U.S. Air Force family, Tim graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1971 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. After 30 years of active duty military service, Tim retired in 2001, having attained the rank of Colonel. Subsequently, he assumed the job of Director of Facilities at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, and permanently retired in the summer of 2011. Tim’s wide-ranging interests included astronomy, woodworking, science fiction books, classical music, hiking, and travelling. Beloved husband, father, brother, and friend; engineer who literally shaped the world for better; leader who shaped lives by example and gentle strength; member of Christ the Servant Lutheran Church; Tim will be deeply missed by those whose lives he touched and loved.

Tim is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Jane Kirstine (Holmquist) Wynn; two daughters, Ane Kirstine (Sr. Cecilia Maria) Wynn and Anemarie Whitney Wynn; his sister Marcia Rice, and brother Tom Wynn and their spouses and children.

During his military career, Tim was assigned to six different Corps of Engineer Districts including Commander of the Transatlantic Programs Center, Commander of the Corps’ Seattle District, Military Deputy of the Seattle District, Commander of the Honolulu district, where he was responsible for the Corps of Engineers mission throughout the central Pacific, and deputy commander in Taif, Saudi Arabia in the Riyadh District. His service included assignments in Korea, Thailand, Honduras, Hawaii, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the continental United States.

Full obituary here