People – Marie Christine Kohler
A Life Well-lived to the Benefit of Many
Marie Christine Kohler (1876-1943) was a prominent and respected influence and servant in her community, active in better home projects and social work – notably with women and children – and driver of the Girl Scouts movement in the Village of Kohler and construction of Walderhaus.
"Her life story must include interests and activities manifold, but never miscellaneous, since all were integrated by one master purpose." - Kohler of Kohler News – November 1943
Rare it is to find an individual who possessed the most admirable qualities wrapped up in one authentic package. A case could be made in the life of Marie Christine Kohler (1876-1943), daughter of Kohler Co. founder John Michael Kohler and Lillie Vollrath Kohler. She devoted her life to enlightening and enriching others, advancing social justice causes, promoting quality of life, and having a positive impact in her community as a respected influencer and change maker.
Growing up in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, Marie graduated high school in three years and then attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she attained a Bachelor of Arts degree. She next taught English literature at the Sheboygan High School from 1901-1904, but left that vocation following the untimely passing of two brothers, Carl and Robert, to became Secretary of her family’s company, then known as J. M. Kohler Sons Co.
Working with her brother, Walter J. Kohler, who assumed upon added responsibilities as president of the company, Marie was a practical planner who demonstrated the ability to get things done and transform vision into reality during her time at the company from 1905-1909.
These qualities served her well and often to the benefit of others while advancing interests in many areas: church, education and community; music and dramatics; town planning, housing and home improvement; and in social work, particularly for women and children.
“It was one of the passions of her life that more men and women of intelligence and sound judgment should engage themselves in political action to bring about social justice and wholesome conditions of life for all. A righteous crusader, she saw a frustrated Americanism in the indifferent attitude of so many men and women who take no part in democratic action. Her tireless interest in well-being for others found abundant expression through many effective channels,” wrote Bishop Sturtevant for the Kohler of Kohler News after Marie’s passing in 1943.
Through her family upbringing and Church, she gained the inspiration to make a difference. Marie was instrumental in organizing The Sheboygan Chapter of the American Red Cross and junior Red Cross in the schools. She was one of the organizers of the American Association of University Women in 1924 and presided at its first meeting. Marie was active in organizing the Sheboygan department of recreation, as well as the Federation of Women’s clubs for many years and once served as a delegate for Wisconsin at its national convention in New York City.
She was president of the Wisconsin Conference of Social Work and was influential with the state legislature in passing the comprehensive Children’s Code, one of the first states in the nation to adopt laws protecting and providing for general child welfare. In the late 1930s, Marie served as Chair of the Women’s Field Army in its fight against cancer.
In the area of housing development, Marie was a member of then Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover’s committee on house building and home ownership and, in 1930, was appointed the state chair of the Better Homes in America organization. In this role, she traveled across the state, speaking at meetings and on the radio, organizing local Better Homes committees and helping to appoint officers, arranging exhibits, participating in Farm and Home Week – all in the effort to promote home ownership, home improvement, and an enhanced appreciation of family life.
Marie and her sisters, Evangeline and Lillie, were active in the Kohler Women’s Club and in the construction of a demonstration house each year. Furnished with the finest appliances and – of course – plumbing products and incorporating the latest ideas in home design, the house drew thousands to the Village of Kohler over several weeks after which it was sold and construction was begun on the next year’s house.
In 1940, Marie – along with her sisters, brother Herbert V. Kohler, Jr, and O.A. Kroos – co-founded the Kohler Foundation, Inc. to support various educational, arts, and cultural programs, primarily in Wisconsin. Among Kohler Foundation’s first projects were taking care of the Walderhaus for use by the community and participating in the construction of a theatre building in the Village of Kohler.
If there was to be a capstone of Marie’s many accomplishments throughout her life of service it may be her work with the Kohler Girl Scouts, which she started in 1919, and the subsequent creation of Walderhaus. The latter was built as a tribute to her father, John Michael, and served as the venue for Girl Scout meetings, as well as for the Women’s Club and Garden Club.
Marie wanted to honor her family’s Austrian heritage and traditions and, as a staunch supporter of the Girl Scout movement throughout America, she desired to provide a charming and natural place where Kohler Village Girl Scouts could meet, grow, and learn. To this day, the Kohler Girl Scouts continue to gather at Walderhaus for their meetings.
Marie Christine Kohler never married and passed away at St. Nicholas Hospital after an illness on October 11, 1943. While highly visible in her support of causes, she – like her sisters – went about her philanthropy quietly. Many families in need, throughout Sheboygan County, received financial assistance without a word being whispered to anyone, including her immediate family.
“These and many other channels of service received an impetus from her to center their best efforts upon the improvement of life, especially of family life, and on a more hopeful and beautiful way of life for children and young people who must gain their most indelible impressions and much of their eternal character through contact with wholesome, inspiring environment. The organizations which she sponsored were not passing fancies for personal pleasure but means toward an end. That end was the permanent improvement of life and the glory of God. Thus, Marie Kohler is the personification of true Social Service,” wrote Bishop Sturtevant.
