Bruce Marvin Sarff was born in Spokane, Washington, on June 25, 1939, to Bertron and Lorene Sarff. He was later joined by his younger siblings Jim and Judy. The family moved around a great deal during Bruce’s younger years. With a natural love of the outdoors in his heart, Bruce liked most of all living near Laclede, Idaho, close to Pend Oreille Lake. As a young boy, Bruce enjoyed the family’s three-acre farm and the nearby stream offering fishing opportunities and plenty of space for outdoor fun.
Later, the family moved to Moscow, Idaho, where Bruce attended junior high and high school. Bruce always had a fondness for music and was a natural singer. As a teenager in Moscow, Bruce learned to play guitar and joined the high school choir, where he met Ann Jenks. Bruce and Ann became good friends and sang duets together in the school choir. Bruce and Ann married in 1960, and soon had children David, Cindy and Shawn.
The family made their home in Moscow, where Bruce worked at Washington State University in Pullman as an animal technician. Bruce spent several evenings each week playing guitar and often the family would sing along. Bruce joined the “Old Time Fiddlers” and occasionally would perform at casual potlucks and family-style gatherings.
As a young father, Bruce’s weekends were spent camping or at the family cabin on Coeur d’Alene Lake during the summer and sledding with the kids in the winter. Bruce enjoyed being a father, was the nurturing parent of the family, and always let his children know they were loved and protected. Bruce and Ann divorced in the mid-1970s and Bruce moved to Elgin, Oregon, to help his parents.
Bruce was encouraged by family members to visit Wrangell, Alaska, and give commercial salmon fishing a try. He was hooked and soon made Wrangell his home, bought the Virmarlo, an old wooden hand-troller, and picked up a salmon hand-troll permit.
Bruce traveled south the winter of 1982 and was joined by Regina Weisz (Jeanie) and her daughters, Rebecca and Deanna. After spending a winter in LaGrande, Oregon, they moved to Wrangell, where Bruce and Jeanie married in 1986. Bruce’s son Shawn and daughter Cindy also moved to Wrangell to be closer to their dad and enjoy the Southeast Alaska lifestyle.
Bruce spent a few years fishing, a few years assisting with the family oyster farm on Prince of Wales Island, and some time working at various land-based jobs in Wrangell before retiring to the comfort of his rocking chair by the woodstove at his and Jeanie’s home at 12-Mile.
Bruce was creative and had imagination. He was a fan of fantasy and science-fiction novels and created stories of his own over the years. One family favorite is his self-inspired character, The Great Fat Knight, who, with his trusty steed Ford, would go on adventures. The steed, of course, was his old Ford Galaxy. These stories became a creative way of writing to family members about what was happening in Bruce’s life, but twisting events into a much more entertaining tale of the Great Fat Knight.
Continuing in this storyline, it can be said that the Great Fat Knight has completed his quest. He had great victories; he had devastating defeats. He made detours and forged new paths. All this wove the tapestry of his adventure, which is now complete.
Lady Regina (Jeanie) remains to trim the tapestry threads. Lords David and Shawn, along with Lady Cindy, and honorary Ladies Rebecca and Deanna, have embarked upon their own quests, mentored and encouraged by the life of The Great Fat Knight. Each extending his legacy, being able to weave their own tapestries because of his guidance. The Great Fat Knight also leaves two grand-squires, 10 step grand-squires and ladies, and a plethora of great and great-great-grand-squires and ladies to his legacy.
The Great Fat Knight didn’t live in solitude; he spread love and created a grand and vast treasure more valuable than any kingdom. We call it family. Bruce is loved and missed as husband, brother, dad, grandpa, great grandpa and friend.
Bruce passed away on Nov. 10, 2025, in Wrangell, Alaska, with his wife, Jeanie, by his side. A memorial and celebration of Bruce’s life will be held in Wrangell in spring or summer 2026, date to be announced.
