The Wohlers Memorial Scholarship was established in 2024 by Clarice Wohlers to commemorate the profound impact (Dr.) Martin Luther College has had on her family through the generations.
Clarice and Elmer Wohlers both had parents who modeled service to the Lord and a deep love of music. Clarice’s father, Edwin Sorgatz, graduated from DMLC in 1933 and was a teacher, choir director, and organist at Trinity Lutheran in St. Paul. Clarice has fond memories of sitting next to her father as he played the organ while her mother, Ruth, sang in the choir. Elmer’s parents farmed outside Lake City, Minnesota. His mother had a piano at home and played the pump organ on Sundays at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Florence Township.
Clarice and Elmer met here on the hill at Dr. Martin Luther High School, where they made lifelong friends and further developed their love of music. They married in 1961 when Elmer graduated from DMLC, then both taught at Fairview Lutheran School in Milwaukee. The couple later moved to Brookfield, Wisconsin, where they joined Christ the Lord Lutheran. Elmer served as choir director for almost 30 years, and Clarice taught kindergarten and played organ. Family members remember the couple spending hours happily exploring music samples. Clarice played the voice parts or accompaniment while Elmer tried all the parts, including soprano. And while directing a favorite piece, especially a “schmaltzy” one, his face would express all the emotions in the music.
Clarice and Elmer instilled a love for service through music in the next generations. Their daughter, Kristi DMLC ’90, was active in band, choir, organ, and musicals while attending DMLC. She met her future husband, Paul Frisque DMLC ’93, while they were both cast as “Gentlemen of Japan” in the chorus of DMLC’s production of The Mikado. Interestingly, Kristi sang the same second tenor part her father, Elmer, had sung years before. Kristi, her husband, and their son, who studied music education at Wisconsin Lutheran College, all serve as church musicians. Because of Elmer and Clarice’s education and musical influence, more generations are sure to follow.
Clarice had to work very hard to pay for her education. She is thankful that, because of God’s generous blessings, she is able to establish this scholarship, and she hopes it can make the path a little easier for future teachers and church musicians.
Scholarship recipients are education students who are pursuing either a major in music education or a music minor and who demonstrate financial need.
