A Kansas University business faculty member who annually took students to meet with investor Warren Buffett has died.

Mark Hirschey, the Anderson W. Chandler professor of business, died Sunday in Pequot, Minn., of cancer at age 59.

He had been on the faculty in the School of Business since 1988. Beginning in 1993, he took business students to the annual stockholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Neb. Starting in 2005, CEO Warren Buffett began inviting Hirschey and his class to Omaha for lunch and an opportunity to talk one-on-one with Buffett.

Hirschey is survived by his wife, Christine, and three children, Nicholas, Jessica and Sarah.

A scholarship fund for students at the business school has been established in Hirschey’s memory. Donations can be made through KU Endowment, at www.kuendowment.org/givenow/default.aspx, or by contacting Shari Mohr, KU Endowment, 888-653-6111.