WA - Klaus Peter Zech was born in Berlin Germany, the son of Otto Hermann Friederich (Fritz) Zech and Hildegard Luise Hellmund. He and his three siblings, Rosemarie, Christian and Monika spent their childhood and formative years in Germany. In 1956 Klaus emigrated to Montreal Canada where he lived and worked for several years. There he met and married Sandra French. Together they emigrated to the United States in 1959 ending up in San Francisco where their three children, Klaus Jr, Paul, and Hilda were born. Klaus worked days working in an insurance company, studying and attending classes in accounting at night. In 1965 he graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Francisco State. He also attained the highest CPA exam score in the state of California, an honor he was proud of.

From 1965 to 1975 he worked for the accounting firm, Peat Marwick Mitchell, first in San Francisco and then he was transferred to Seattle in 1972. In 1975 he left Peat Marwick Mitchell as a partner and with a few friends, formed a small firm in Bellevue, Ford, Navarre and Zech. In 1977 he formed his own consulting firm, Z Associates, Inc. At the end of his career, he taught worldwide for Moody's.

In 1990 the second chapter of his life began when he met Marcia Woodby Paulsell, the two of them marrying in 1993, blending two families together, forming a bond of love that would remain strong for 32 years - a union of trust, patience and support. They began their adventuring by honeymooning in Turkey and Uzbekistan.

As the years passed they were able to marvel at some of the world's most memorable sites: the pyramids in Egypt, the Taj Mahal in India, the iconic statues on Easter Island, the safari plains of Africa, the vastness of Russia and China experienced on the Trans-Siberian Express. Klaus' lifelong passion was traveling and languages; he loved learning about other cultures. He read James Henry Breasted's book about Egypt when he was 14 and fell in love with ancient history and Egypt. In fact he sponsored the restoration of a sarcophagus in one of the tombs. He loved talking and reading about the Silk Road. Books were another passion; he amassed an impressive collection of books both in English and German.

Klaus attended Mercer Island Covenant Church for many years. He was a founding board member of the street ministry, Operation Nightwatch, and served on the boards of the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and the Transferware Collectors Club. He loved classical music and was an ardent supporter of Early Music Seattle.

He enjoyed moving between the different family homes and in each spot he would have a desk and a small library where he would work and read, content and smiling. His lasting legacy will be the 20 acres of land outside of Ellensburg, known by the family as "the Property." Which is now the family compound; and where his permanent 'memorial' library sits honoring his name and story and where his ashes will be interred.

With his passing he leaves behind his wife, Marcia; his children Klaus Jr., Paul (Heather), Hilda (Scott) Zimmerman, Fred (Michele) Paulsell, Michael (Gina) Paulsell, Leigh (Patrick) Hines, David Paulsell and grandchildren Nathan Zech, Galen Zimmerman, Annika Zimmerman, Victoria Zimmerman, Kylie (Jamarius) Wilder, Million Zimmerman, Genet Zimmerman, Thomas Paulsell, Oliver Hines, Anna Paulsell, Grace Paulsell, Sloane Paulsell, Lily Paulsell, Sidney Paulsell, Madison Coleman, Alyssa Coleman; and great grandchildren, Rae Lynn and Riley Wilder; his siblings, Monika Greser, Christian (Uschi) Zech, Rosemarie (Gerhard) Firl and treasured cousins Doda Schwartzkopff, Peter (Isolde) Zech , Irmgard Schwartzkopff, Gisela Runge and their families; and his former wife, Sandra French Zech.

A Celebration of life will be held on Monday August 11th, 2025 at 2:00pm at The Sunset Club (1021 University Street, Seattle).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Operation Nightwatch