Klaus Peter Zech was born in Berlin to Otto Hermann Friederich (Fritz) Zech and Hildegard Luise Hellmund. At 21 he emigrated to Canada where he met and married Sandra French. Together they emigrated to the United States, settling in San Francisco where their three children were born. He worked days and attended college at night, graduating from San Francisco State Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. He earned the highest score in California that year on his CPA exam and was awarded a gold medal.

Klaus worked at the accounting firm KPMG both in San Francisco and Seattle, later forming his own consulting firm.He settled on MercerIsland where he lived out his life. He was active in the Mercer Island Covenant Church and was a founding board member of Operation Nightwatch, a street ministry. Later he also served on the boards of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and the Transferware Collectors Club where he shared his accounting expertise, his wisdom and his sunny and positive attitude.

Klaus’ passions were for history, books, music, languages and travel, with a special interest in Egyptology, the Silk Road, ancient history and the 19th century explorers. He had a sense of adventure and could always be counted on to entertain with a good story of his life experiences.

In the 90’s he met and married Marcia Paulsell. They spent the next 32 years traveling the world making wonderful memories and good friends.

He leaves behind his wife, Marcia, his children Paul (Heather) Zech, Klaus Zech Jr., Hilda (Scott) Zimmerman, Fred (Michele) Paulsell, Michael (Gina) Paulsell, Leigh (Patrick) Hines, And David Paulsell; grandchildren, Nathan Zech, Galen Zimmerman, Annika Zimmerman, Victoria Zimmerman, Million Zimmerman, Genet Zimmerman, Kylie (Jamarius) Wilder, Thomas Paulsell, Anna Paulsell, Grace Paulsell, Sloane Paulsell, Oliver Hines, Lily Paulsell, Sidney Paulsell; great grandchildren Rae Lynn Wilder and Riley Wilder; siblings Monika Greser, Rosemarie (Gerhard) Firl, Christian (Uschi) Zech and cousins Peter (Isolde) Zech, Gisela Runge, Irmgard Schwartzkopff, Doda Schwartzkopff and many nieces and nephews. We will all deeply miss his sunny disposition, his stories, his kindness, his brilliant mind and his wisdom.

The family requests that remembrances be given in Klaus’ honor to Operation Nightwatch, Early Music Seattle or Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.