Harry Stephen Wohlert

Harry was born in Berlin, Germany, on February 21, 1935, to Stephan and Anna Wohlert. After surviving World War II as a child in Berlin, he escaped communist East Germany and immigrated as a refugee to the United States in 1956. He enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma. Following his honorable discharge, he attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He went on to pursue a Master’s Degree at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, where he met his wife of 37 years, Hilde.

In 1967, Harry and Hilde came to the foreign language department at Oklahoma State where they worked side by side as professors in the German Department for nearly 30 years. They developed innovative teaching programs that allowed students to work in German-speaking countries as part of the university curriculum and pioneered the German by Satellite program, which reached more than 30,000 students across the United States during the 13 years of broadcasting. The program helped rural schools fulfill foreign language teaching requirements by allowing local teachers to supervise in the classroom, while Harry and Hilde provide the foreign language curriculum and supporting computer programs. For his efforts, Harry received numerous accolades, including the Noble Endowed Professor of Technology Enhanced Learning at Oklahoma State. While at OSU, Harry also obtained his doctorate in Physical Education, pursuing research on the effects of exercise on the heart. He served as President of the Oklahoma Foreign Language Teachers.

Harry enjoyed music, fun, and dancing and was a vibrant member of several dance clubs including The Alliance, The Committee, and Mayfair.

Harry is preceded in death by his parents, Stephan and Anna, and his wife, Hilde. He is survived by his daughter Christina, son Martin, son-in-law Tim, and grandchildren William and Michael.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at Sparkman Hillcrest in the Northwest Highway Chapel in Dallas, Texas. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.