Theodore "Ted" Kluh

Frederick Theodore (Ted) Kluh was born in Seattle on March 28, 1919. He was born to a seafaring German father and a mother of Scottish heritage. His father returned to Germany. His mother worked in the retail clothing and jewelry business to support the family. TK spent his days on the streets and waterfront of downtown Seattle, dreaming of the day when he would own a boat of his own. 67 years ago, Ted met and married his wife Vernice Rene "Sissie" Lommel in Seattle.
World War ll came along and he joined the United States Coast Guard for four years protecting the Pacific West Coast. Ted returned to Seattle and the jewelry business where he worked with his mother and Sissie's father.
He opened his first store in Olympia in 1959, and built a chain of retail stores in Southwest Washington. His sons and grandsons now operate the business.
Ted was an avid boater. From riding logs across Lake Washington as a kid, to captaining his boat, the "Klu Maru" up the inside passage to Alaska, he had a lifetime of adventure on the sea. He was a Predicted Log Racer, a fisherman and a crabber.
Ted was a Black Hills Audubon supporter. In retirement he became a "birder" and volunteered his boat annually for the nationwide Audubon Christmas Bird Count. He also enjoyed many years as a volunteer for the Fish and Wildlife Service at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.
While a member of the Olympia and Seattle Yacht Clubs, he enjoyed volunteering his boat for many community activities such as the Special Peoples Cruises, Lakefair and Lighted Ships at Christmas.
Ted is survivied by his wife, Sissie; three sons, Walter Lawyer (Terry), Gregory Lee (Kathy), and Sandy Theodore (Rose); a daughter, Suzie Kluh Winans (John), all of Olympia. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren; a sister, Louise Olsen, of Redmond, Washington, and many nieces and nephews.
Per Ted's request there will be no public services. We thank you for memorials you may wish to make to Black Hills Audubon Society or Providence SoundHomeCare and Hospice, both in Olympia.

Happy Father's Day
Poppa Ted a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother.