Walter J. Kohler Sr.

Walter J. Kohler Sr.
Kohler as depicted in 1929's Wisconsin Blue Book
26th Governor of Wisconsin
In office January 7, 1929 – January 5, 1931
Lieutenant	Henry A. Huber
Preceded by	Fred R. Zimmerman
Succeeded by	Philip La Follette
Personal details
Born	Walter Jodok Kohler (1875-03-03)March 3, 1875 Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Died	April 21, 1940(1940-04-21) (aged 65) Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Resting place	Woodland Cemetery Kohler, Wisconsin
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Charlotte H. Schroeder (m. 1900; died 1947)
Children	John Michael Kohler Walter Jodok Kohler Jr. Carl James Kohler Robert Eugene Kohler
Parents	John Michael Kohler (father) Elizabeth (Vollrath) Kohler (mother)
Profession	Businessman

Walter Jodok Kohler Sr., (March 3, 1875 – April 21, 1940) was an American businessman and politician from the Kohler family of Wisconsin. He was an innovative and highly successful Wisconsin industrialist. The Kohler Company was founded by his father, John Michael Kohler. Walter Kohler served as the company's president from 1905 to 1937. Walter Kohler was elected the 26th governor of Wisconsin as a Republican, serving one term from 1929 to 1931. A moderate, pro-business Republican who admired Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover, Kohler sparred with the left and right of his party before and during the Great Depression. His son, Walter J. Kohler Jr., also served as governor, from 1951 to 1957.^[1]