Gary Eugene Schleuter

Gary was born in Santa Ana California and spent his childhood in Los Alamitos, California where he was the typical boy active in baseball, football and surfing. He played football at Western High School, Cypress Junior College and Fullerton College. He went on to graduate from California State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He was also a graduate of Western State University College of Law receiving his Juris Doctor in 1988.

Gary was drafted into the USArmy in 1965 served a tour of duty with the 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division in Viet Nam. He served with distinction having been awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, three Purple Hearts, the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal among others. He often told the story of life in the jungle with obsessive heat and monsoon rains and hardship. After one particularly devastating fire fight, the medics gave him a suture kit and told him to sew his finger back on while they attended to more seriously wounded soldiers. He was proud of that stitching job inasmuch as his finger remained functional.

Upon his homecoming he completed his Bachelor Degree and thereafter joined the United States Postal Service where he served as a mail carrier and worked his way up to manager of mail processing throughout the Western United States. He retired after 20 years of service. At that point, he turned his attention to becoming an attorney. After law school he worked in the private sector handling primarily personal injury cases. His organizational skills and management skills took him in a different direction and in 1993 he joined Southern California Edison as a manager and supervisor in the Long Beach Call Center where he made many life long friendships. He retired in 2013 and moved to Leawood, Kansas in 2015 to be closer to his beloved family.

He was a member of American Legion Post 716, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8988 and the 82nd Airborne Division Association.

Gary was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Johanna Scheluter, his son David (Holley) Harwood, and his four grandchildren: Jefferson, Jackson, McKinley, and Reagan. He also leaves two children from a previous marriage. His parents Vernon Eugene Schleuter and Marilyn Bress Schleuter and brother Terry Richard Schleuter predeceased him.

A private memorial service will be held to honor Gary on Saturday, November 28th. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you consider donating to Disabled American Veterans PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 in Gary’s honor.

Gary was a kindhearted man with a gentle soul and worked hard every day of his life. He was respected by all who knew him for his integrity and strength of character. His family will miss his warm hugs, inspiring stories, and infectious smile. May he rest in peace.