Trade Regrets: Alan Gaulke

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Alan Gaulke began teaching music in parochial schools. He soon moved to teaching in the Racine Unified School District, finding a job that had him teaching at two schools.

Before long, he and his wife, Sharon, decided to open a music store instead of pursing a career as a music educator. A note on Brass Bell’s website from the operation’s current owner, and Alan’s daughter, Tristann Rieck reads: “After several years of teaching and directing various bands, my father Alan Gaulke, developed hearing problems, making it painful to continue working with boisterous musicians. He decided to change direction, if only slightly, and open a music store.”

Alan and Sharon opened The Brass Bell in Hales Corners in 1971. In late 1972, the couple opened another store in the North Shore. Other locations followed, and at one point they had five stores, including locations in Mayfair, Northridge and Southridge malls. In 1989, they consolidated to just one store, and the business settled on Silver Spring Drive in Glendale, Wisconsin.

Alan Gaulke died Aug. 19. He was 72.