Born July 9,1925, to Henry Holman Ketcham and Katherine Eugenia “Gena” Peters Ketcham, Bill was the second of three brothers: Henry ”Pete” H. Ketcham, Jr., and Samuel Kendall Ketcham.
Bill grew up in Seattle and on Bainbridge Island. He attended the Lakeside School, Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, and Stanford University in California.
Early in his professional career he joined his father at HH Ketcham Lumber Co. After a fortuitous business and fishing trip in British Columbia, Bill and his two close brothers joined together to buy the Two Mile Planing Mill in Quesnel, BC in 1955. Over several years, they purchased other mills, gathered phenomenal people and with humility, frugality and humor grew the West Fraser Timber Company. He was so proud of the company, its scope and culture driven by exceptional people including family.
Bill was deeply connected to his family and his lifelong multigenerational friendships. He was admired for his tennis agility and taught his daughters to play. He was a competitive golfer and squash player at the Seattle Tennis Club. A skilled Bridge player, he traveled to compete and was known for his sportsmanship. His skill and graciousness in all his hobbies made him the favorite company of friends and family.
He was beloved by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. They admired his wit and his magic tricks. Until only recently, not one of them could beat him in chess.
Bill was tremendously proud of his four daughters who worked alongside him and could always make him laugh.
He spent the last days of his life surrounded by family and friends, who reflected on the genuine kindness and integrity he brought to every conversation. Those last conversations filled him with joy as they shared stories of generations of Ketchams on Bainbridge Island.
Bill is survived by his adoring daughters Jeanie Ketcham (Reid Swick), Franny Ketcham Mead (Casey Mead), Nancy Ketcham Warsinske (Mike Warsinske) and Janet Ketcham Rudolph (Bob Rudolph). He is missed by his grandchildren Nancy Sullivan, Kate Jacobson, Charlie Mead, Libby Mead, Will Jacobson, Henry Mead, Alice Warsinske, Sid Warsinske, Pete Warsinske, James Rudolph and Natalie Rudolph. He is also survived by his sister in law Janet W Ketcham as well as his nieces, nephews, their spouses and their children all of whom he cared for deeply.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. https://www.ugm.org/
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