Ed was born in Radium, Minnesota March 15th, 1923 to Wilhelmine Amalia (Kluver) and August Otto Schlie. Known as “Sonnie” as a boy, he grew up in farmland during the Great Depression and worked with his widowed father as hired field hands. As a young man he followed his good friend Reinhold Otto out to Bremerton for better wages.
Ed was drafted into the army in World War 2 and became part of the 28th Infantry “Red Keystone” unit, fighting through the Battle of the Bulge and eventually assisting in the rescue of Buchenwald Camp survivors. On his return to the states from Germany, he married his childhood friend Leona Louise Horter on August 15th, 1945, V-J Day. The war ended just before he would have been re-deployed for a land invasion on Japan.
He found post-war work with Reinhold as a traffic officer in the Bremerton police department. Over his 31 year career he worked his way up to Chief of Police, though his favorite work was as a detective. He used his veterans' educational benefits to earn his pilot's license.
He loved to fly with his family and served as the pilot for the late US Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson, fought fires in Alaska, and was the co-pilot in the opening scene from the Spielberg movie “Always.”
Ed was passionate about classic cars. Though he had many projects that turned used cars into showpieces, his pride and joy was a white 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
He had a love of the outdoors and enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing with friends and family. The Schlie and Otto families spent many summers together on the North shore of the Hood Canal.
In retirement, Ed and Leona went “snow birding” in the winter, first to Hawaii and later to Indio, CA. Ed loved golf for the fresh air, sun and exercise. He was known to walk all 18 holes with his clubs well into his eighties. They made many friends in Indio, including the Zimmermans.
After over sixty years of marriage, Ed was widowed in 2008. He grew close to his also widowed friend Carolyn Zimmerman. Ed moved to Port Orchard to live with Carolyn and they continued to winter in Indio until just before the pandemic.
Though he physically slowed down, he always had twinkling blue eyes and a friendly wit. At his 99th birthday this spring he was surrounded by loved ones and made jokes that cracked up the room.
Ed is survived by his loving partner Carolyn Zimmerman, children Margaret Schlie-House and Jerry Schlie, grandchildren Aurora Chapman and Stevena House, and great-grandchildren Keagen Chapman and Esther Loeb.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00PM Tuesday, August 30th at Peace Lutheran Church, 1234 NE Riddell Rd.
In lieu of flowers please give a donation to The American Cancer Society.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.miller-woodlawn.com for the Schlie family.
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