H. William Kirschner died Saturday, April 22, 2006, surrounded by his wife and family. He was 87 years old.

Mr. Kirschner was born May 16, 1918, in Seattle. After graduating from Roosevelt High School he completed his degree from the School of Mining Engineering at the University of Washington in 1939. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

It was at the university that he met his wife Barbara Rankin and they married in 1940. They lived most of their married life and raised their family on Vashon Island.

Mr. Kirschner was a charter member of the Vashon Kiwanis Club and the Vashon Island Golf and Country Club and served on the Vashon School Board from 1951 to 1970, when he resigned due to business responsibilities.

It was during the 1950s that Bill created a business with his father and brother designing and building splints for animal fractures and animal cages out of reinforced plastic at their plant on Vashon Island.

In the 1960s he invented the fiberglass ski and founded K2 Corp., which became the largest ski manufacturer in the United States. He retired in 1982.

In 2001 he was inducted into the U. S. National Ski Hall of Fame where he was honored as “one of the great ski entrepreneurs of the 1960s, the golden years of the United States ski business.”

He received the 2005 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Washington School of Engineering.

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Barbara, his sons Bill and his wife Susie Kirschner, Bruce and his wife Karen Kirschner, all of Vashon and his daughter Becky and her husband David Pendleton of Vancouver B.C. He also leaves behind his grandchildren Brad, Victoria, Kimi, Kalie, Elly and Greg and five great grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, at the K2 Ski Corporation on Vashon Island.

Donations may be made to the Vashon Partners in Education or to a charity of your choice.