Robert Jordan (whose real name was Jim Rigney) passed away on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2007. It was mentioned earlier in this thread (or maybe in another book thread) that he was ill.

Here's an entry about it in Neil Gaiman's journal.

His NY Times obituary.

Did he finish Wheel of Time first? I've been wary of getting into that (quite long) series because of concerns on that front.

Wikipedia states that he was working on the last book.

Indeed, he was supposed to finish the series (which I find incredible from the way things are currently) with the 12th book. However, he revealed the plot to his family and hoped that the lst book would be published.

He also had a couple of side-novels in mind and an encyclopedia.

He had also even planned a new series with a culture somewhat resembling

Spoiler:

the Seanchans.

He knew he was ill for a while and that it was a possibility. I believe he was a fair way into the last novel and that he has dictated detailed notes to his wife about how it should end.

Something similar happened when David Gemmell passed away. The last Troy novel has a dual Author of David and Stella Gemmell as the wife finished it off.

Not sure if RObert Jordan's Wife will finish it off or someon elses will be hired, but i'm sure they will finish it one way or another.