Otto J. Schoenleber was born to Adolph and Margaretha Schoenleber on 16 October 1858
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Otto’s parents were immigrants from Baden, Germany, and
upon settling in the Milwaukee area in 1848, became some of the first settlers of
Milwaukee. Adolph was a cabinet and furniture maker, a trade he passed on to his
son. When Adolph retired in 1886, Otto took over the family business. He continued
the furniture business until 1894, when he decided to try his hand at a different
trade: chocolate. Schoenleber established Ambrosia Chocolate Company on 9 May 1894.
The company was very successful and remained a Milwaukee institution until 1964,
when it was bought by W. R. Grace & Co.
In addition to his success as a businessman, Otto Schoenleber was a respected civic
leader and was involved in many Milwaukee organizations. He was a founding member of
the West Side Bank, serving on its board of directors for many years. He was a
member of the Old Settlers Club and the Wisconsin Club (Deutsche Club). He was a
Milwaukee School Board Commissioner from 1891 to 1897 and served on the local draft
board during World War I. He enjoyed music and was a long-standing member of the
Milwaukee Musical Society. He was president of several local organizations: the
Milwaukee Liedenkranz in 1890, the Milwaukee Homecoming Association in 1909, and the
Milwaukee Auditorium Company Board from 1915 to 1918. He also helped plan events for
the Solomon Juneau Centennial Celebration in 1918. Otto Schoenleber died 4 February
1927.
Otto J. Schoenleber married Emma Theede in 1887. They had three daughters, Gretchen,
Marie, and Louise. Gretchen succeeded Otto as head of Ambrosia Chocolate and
remained in the post until her death in 1953. Louise A. Schoenleber was born 24
March 1893. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1914. Louise was
employed by Milwaukee Public Library from 1915 until 1931. She died in May of
1986.
