OTTO LeROY KARLSTROM

Otto “LeRoy” Karlstrom of Shelter Bay died at age 93 on Thursday, April 30, after a long illness.

He was born in Seattle June 16, 1921, to the Rev. Otto and Alva Karlstrom. He grew up in the Fauntleroy neighborhood with a sister Hildur and brothers Reinhold, Paul, Thor and Ernest.

LeRoy graduated with honors from West Seattle High School in 1938, then joined his brothers at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. In 1943 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in history. He served as a naval officer in the Pacific with an amphibious fleet until World War II ended.

In 1952, he received a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of Chicago, Illinois. He met his wife Esther Kessler while in Chicago. In 1951, they married in Oslo, Norway, while he was conducting research for his doctoral dissertation.

From 1952 to 1972, his civilian career included serving as analyst and liaison to NATO countries, coordinating seminars for senior officials with the U.S. State and Defense departments and the CIA.

He retired in Shelter Bay, La Conner, Wash. with his family. He was an avid handyman and traveled extensively with his wife until 2001, when an accident in Sweden caused a spinal cord injury and limited his mobility.

LeRoy was preceded in death by his sister Hildur and his brothers Reinhold, Paul and Thor.

He is survived by his wife Esther of 64 years; his brother and sister-in-law Ernest and Marilyn and their family; his daughter and son-in-law Anita and Alfonso Sassen van Elsloo of Bellingham; his daughter and son-in-law Leslie and Ken Krebs of Livermore, California; his son Steven of Key West, Florida; his son David of Shelter Bay; his granddaughter Johanna and her husband Jim Whelan of Elk Grove, California; his grandson Adrian and his wife Rose of Bellingham; grandchildren Justin, Katelyn and Joshua Krebs of Livermore California, and great-grandchildren Madison, Abigail and Gabriel of Elk Grove, California.

He also leaves many close friends and relatives in Seattle, Tacoma, California and Sweden.

A private memorial service will be scheduled.