Dr. David Wayne Willis, 58, of Brookings, S.D., passed away Monday, January 13, 2014 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Dave was born March 7, 1955 in Ames, Iowa to the late Dr. Wayne O. and Sally R. Willis. He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Susan, and three children: Matthew Willis (Pamela), of Estelline, S.D.; Jamie Kerr (Stef), of Pierre, S.D.; and Valerie Willis (Rocky), of Brookings, S.D.; three siblings: Donald Willis, of Wheatland, Wyo.; Dr. Diane Brown, of Boston, Mass.; and Daniel Willis, of Westminster, Colo.; and grandsons Taylor, Dylan, Ryder and R.J. At the time of his passing, Dave was a Distinguished Professor and Head of the Department of Natural Resource Management at South Dakota State University in Brookings. He received his undergraduate degrees (BS, MS) from the University of North Dakota, and earned a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Fishery Biology from Colorado State University. Over the course of his post-graduate career, he worked at Pittsburg State University, the Kansas Fish and Game Commission, and Emporia State University, before beginning his long tenure on faculty at SDSU that spanned 1987 - 2014. Dave was well-known as a scientist and educator. He stated that one of his greatest accomplishments was "the working relationships that I developed with students at all levels," serving as thesis adviser for more than 50 graduate (MS and PhD) students. He received numerous research and teaching awards from the American Fisheries Society and SDSU, among others, yet more important to him were the more than 90 awards received by his students. At SDSU, Dave secured grants in excess of $7 million to further the understanding of fisheries biology, education, conservation and natural resource management. His scientific publications numbered more than 250, and included seminal papers and widely-read textbooks on fisheries biology. To know Dave was to understand that he was happiest with a fishing pole, a pond and his family. He truly exemplified "do what you love, and love what you do," all with a humble, kind, and ever-inquisitive nature. In addition to his family, Dave leaves behind valued friends and colleagues nationwide. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 16 at the First Presbyterian Church, 405 7th Avenue, Brookings, S.D. Arrangements are being handled by Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings (http://www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com/). Memorial donations may be made to the David W. Willis Memorial Fund by visiting www.sdstatefoundation.org or SDSU Foundation, Lohr Building, 815 Medary Ave., Box 525, Brookings, S.D. 57007; 605-697-7475.