Gary Jon Wink

Gary J. Wink, a lifelong Scout and lover of the outdoors, died on October 27, 2026, in Austin, Texas. He was born on October 31, 1964, in West Virginia, where his father, Don, was teaching at the time. The family later moved to Texas, and Gary graduated from Nacogdoches High School in 1983. He went on to study at Stephen F. Austin State University and the University of Houston.

Gary had many interests in life, and chief among them was Scouting. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, was an Assistant Scoutmaster, and his adventures with the Boy Scouts took him to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and to Northern Tier, the Scouting high-adventure base near Ely, Minnesota. There he served on the year-round staff as an Interpreter with the Okpik program, and he had great stories to tell of spending a harsh Minnesota winter there.

Gary also worked alongside his younger brother, Anson, as a Visual Observer on drone flight crews, including a large emergency response after California’s Camp Fire that inspected remote areas of Northern California to help prevent future wildfires.

Gary was skilled at repairing broken things, deeply cared for all animals, and along with his time outdoors camping, he loved riding his Kawasaki KLR motorcycle across the highways of the American Southwest. He was a talented musician and an avid gardener, and could make virtually anything grow. Drawing on the artistic talent he inherited from his parents, Gary was an accomplished sculptor.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother, Nadine, in 2023, and by his father, Don, just two weeks before him. He is survived by his son, Devn Wink; his sister, Natalie Wiesehuegel; and his brother, Anson Wink.

A joint celebration of life for Gary and his father, Don, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home, 9700 Anderson Mill Road, Austin, Texas 78750. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org).

Don's obituary: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/austin-tx/jon-wink-13075836