Klaus Peter Bodo Joeschke was born August 1st, 1950 in Villach, Austria to Peter and Gabriele Joeschke. After the war, in 1952, the young family immigrated to New York from Bremen, Germany. They later settled in Compton, California where Klaus grew up with his parents and younger sister Evelyn. Klausi, as his parents called him, grew up Catholic, loved to ride his motorcycle on one wheel and took great pride in his skill with the accordion. He and his family regularly visited the Pacific beaches and had an invested hobby in sailing.
After graduating high school in California Klaus married, had a daughter named Jennifer, and enlisted in the US Navy. Several years after joining the Navy, his marriage failed and he was divorced in 1974. He moved to Seattle where he met Lorrie and they were married in 1975. During their 17-year marriage they raised two children, Alecia and Klaus Joseph, in the Skyway area of Renton. Klaus worked as a taxi driver for Farwest Taxi and then went on to work as a machinist for PACCAR foundry. He later went to work for Boeing, also as a machinist, and in 1988 moved his family to the Renton-Issaquah area.
His children remember him most as an outdoorsman who loved fishing, hiking, shooting, camping, and mushroom hunting. His favorite spot was the South Fork of the Ho River on the Olympic Peninsula. Klaus enjoyed a day out shooting at watermelons and pumpkins, or just hanging out at home playing computer games and watching Gallagher. He enjoyed watching movies and television, listening to music and reading mystery novels. He was a big fan of M.A.S.H., Night Court, Doctor Who, and Star Trek. He often took out his little dinghy when he fished, although sometimes he just cast off on the banks of rivers. He is remembered for his love of food, cooking and putting peanuts in his bottle of Coca-Cola. One of his favorite family dishes, Fleisch Rouladen, is a family tradition to this day. As a motorcycle enthusiast he loved to ride dirt bikes and had turned his son onto them by the age of eight. His all time favorite beer was Rainier when it was still brewed in Seattle. He enjoyed drinking Drambuie or Scotch with his father and later found a liking for Jagermiester. His favorite tobacco was Captain Black which blended with his Stetson and Old Spice cologne to create a fond memory for his children.
After getting divorced in 1992, Klaus found his Mecca in West Seattle, including many spots along California Ave and within the Junction. His favorite past-time was spending time with his friends at the Poggie Tavern on California Avenue. He thrived in West Seattle with his soul mate Vera for 18 years before she passed away. He and Vera loved to frequent their favorite restaurants and bars in the Seattle area. They were known to take fun journeys to Oregon and places along the pacific coast including roughed camping spots. The Cascades were a dear friend to Klaus especially with his fondness for exploring. While living in West Seattle, Klaus retired from his final career at the Lighthouse for the Blind.
Shortly after Vera passed away Klaus moved to Federal Way to live with his ex-brother in-law Craig, aka ‘Crazy’ or ‘Barefoot Biker.’ Klaus passed away on August 28th, 2012 at the age of 62 from heart disease, liver failure and high blood pressure.
Many remember Klaus as a handsome and charming man, a real Errol Flynn. He always believed in honesty and was a truly compassionate man. He will forever be in our hearts and missed by many for one of the many roles he played throughout his life.
Klaus is predeceased by his parents, his sister Evelyn, and his long-time companion Vera. He is survived by his children, his grandchildren and one nephew.