Keith Malcolm Schleh, 81, 12-year resident of Whidbey Island, died June 6, 2003 at Careage of Whidbey.

Mr. Schleh was born in Omaha, Neb., Feb. 17, 1922, to Vernon S. Schleh and Myrtle Alice (Swenson) Schleh. He was raised in Omaha, where he attended high school. Keith served in the US Army during World War II and was injured in action during the Battle of the Bulge. He received a battlefield commission to that of lieutenant. (Also during World War II, Keith’s only brother, Robert Schleh, was killed in a prisoner of war camp in the Philippines, after being shot down over the Gulf of Leyte. His remains were only recently recovered.)

Following the war, he served in the Army Signal Corps in both Alaska and Philadelphia. He retired with the rank of captain. He received a bachelor of science degree in 1949 from the University of Denver. Keith was married Marcy 23, 1947 to Ruth E. Nelson in Fort Collins, Colo. The couple moved to Bellevue in 1960, and resided there until 1988. Keith was employed as a sales engineer for both Curtiss-Wright and Boeing for a number of years. He was also a real estate appraiser.

Keith was a 40-year member of Whidby Island Lodge No. 15, F & AM; Elks Lodge No. 2362; was a member of the Independent Fee Appraisers since 1977, and was president of the Seattle Chapter in 1980; was president of the Shangri-La Association; was an officer in Central Whidbey Sportsmen’s Association, in which he was a lifetime member; was a member of the National Rifle Association; was a member of Ducks Unlimited. He was also a member of the Whidbey Presbyterian Church. Keith loved Whidbey Island. He enjoyed fishing and bird hunting with his Labrador retriever.

Keith is survived by his wife, Ruth, at home; one son, Malcolm Schleh and wife Debby Spaine of Tehachapi, Calif.; two daughters, Janet George and husband Klaus of Flensburg, Germany and Barbara Hudson and husband Mark of Seattle; four grandchildren, Joshua and Meagan Schleh, Eileen George and Kevin Hudson.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Interment will be at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 4414 Woodland Park Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103; or to Ducks Unlimited, One Waterfall Way, Memphis, Tenn. 38120 Arrangements and cremation under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.