Eloise Koelling graduated from Northwestern University and did post-graduate work at the
Chicago Conservatory. She moved to Wisconsin in 1940 to accept a teaching position at
Whitewater State College. In 1947, Koelling began her career as professor of music at the
Milwaukee State Teachers College which later became the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
She remained at UWM until her retirement in June 1969. While at UWM, Koelling resided by
Spring Lake in the town of Palmyra in Waukesha County. She claimed that her lakeside home
served as an inspiration for many of her musical compositions.
