JAMES FRASER KILIAN

Jim Kilian, 75, of Stanwood, passed away on April 29, 2010.

He was born to Arthur and Margaret Kilian, founders and operators of Kayak Point Resort. Jim lived his early life at the resort, which is now most of Kayak Point County Park.

He graduated from Twin City High School in 1953 and attended the University of Washington. He served two years in the U.S. Army in Germany.

Jim was employed for years as an electronics technician and radio operator on National Oceanic Administration (NOAA) ships based in Seattle. In this job he traveled throughout the world, from Alaska and the Arctic Ocean to South America and Western Africa. He later served in a similar position on a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker, transporting fuel from Indonesia to Japan.

Jim was constructing a 38-foot Ingrid sailboat which was nearly 80 percent complete when Parkinsons’s struck. He had planned to sail to the South Pacific when it was finished, and make it his retirement home as a “live aboard.”

Unfortunately, this was not to be. Jim spent his remaining years under the excellent care of Warm Beach Health Center.

In his spare time, Jim loved to downhill ski. He was a longtime member of the Billiken Ski Club at Crystal Mountain Ski Area. For years, he was a member of the volunteer ski patrol at Crystal. He also enjoyed sailing, windsurfing, and working long hours on his sailboat.

He played trombone in the high school band, and later played the guitar and accordian. He also loved to yodel.

He is survived by his brothers and their wives, Phil and Judy Kilian, and Mike and Judy Kilian, all of Stanwood, and three nieces.

A remembrance gathering of family and friends will be held at 2 p.m. on June 13, 2010, at 16604 Marine Drive, Stanwood.