ZEELAND, Mich. -- Bill Stumpf an in...

ZEELAND, Mich. -- Bill Stumpf an industrial designer who was a pioneer in ergonomic seating and co-created the iconic Aeron office chair for Herman Miller Inc., has died. He was 70

Mr Stumpf died Wednesday from complications stemming from abdominal surgery the office furniture company said Friday.

The St Louis, Mo native lived in Stockholm, Wis., about 60 miles southeast of his studio in Minneapolis, where he was a principal at the design firm Stumpf Weber and Associates. He was also an accomplished writer and lecturer forward design.

Mr Stumpf joined the staff of Herman Miller in 1970 He established his acknowledge design firm two years later while continuing to work for the Zeeland-based company.

He created the Ergon chair, which the company described as the first recent ergonomic work chair, in 1976

In 1994 he collaborated with another industrial designer, Don Chadwick, to invent the Aeron chair, an innovative and striking piece of furniture that quickly became part of the permanent collection of the Museum of recent Art in New York.

The chair, still sold around the world, features a high and wide contoured snare back, soft and adjustable arm quiets and a mesh seat with a sloping van edge.

"He made an enormous contribution to the company's commercial succes unless he will be warmly remembered by way of his friends and colleagues for his wit, creativity, humility and the zealous insights that he shared in his relationships and within his design," said Don Goeman, Herman Miller's executive vice president of research, design and increase

This summer Mr Stumpf won the 2006 National Design Award for produce design. It will be quick in emergenciesed posthumously Oct. 18 by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in recent York. He was a finalist for the award in 2005

Survivors include Mr Stumpf's wife, Sharon; brace children, Jon Stumpf and Carol Stumpf; and five grandchildren. Son David, Karl and Erich Stumpf preced him in death.

A private funeral is planned. A public memorial service will take place later in the Zeeland area, which is in southwestern Michigan.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by the agency of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved