Cover photo for Norman Wohlers's Obituary
Norman Wohlers Profile Photo
1938 Norman 2007

Norman Wohlers

September 25, 1938 — October 26, 2007

Norman Wohlers passed away Oct. 26, 2007. He was born in Powell County, Mont. in 1938.

A graveside service will begin at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Davis Cemetery, 820 Pole Line Road. His friends are welcome.

He is survived by his children, Gloria Caruana of La Mesa, and Brice and Cady Horobin-Wohlers of Davis; his sisters, Beth Tietjen of Bosque Farms, N.M., and Mary Ann Montague of Dixon; and his grandchildren, Aubree Rose and Nicholas Caruana.

He is also survived by two half-sisters, Peggy Gow and Sandra Wohlers; a half-brother, Donnie Wohlers; six nieces and nephews; and cousins. Numerous friends are as close as siblings.

He lived on or within 20 miles of the Wohlers family's Montana homestead until he graduated from high school. In his high school years he was a gifted athlete and was Montana state champion in the backstroke. From earliest childhood he showed an aptitude for anything mechanical. Although a competent cowboy, he always preferred horse-power to horses. He teased his sisters that his horses didn't eat when he wasn't riding them. Motorcycle, motor scooter, hotrods, fast cars, motorboat, dune buggy, riding lawnmower, go cart - that's Norman.

After high school he lived in New Mexico and worked in his aunt's lumber mill before joining his brother-in-law on a highway construction crew. His mechanical talents prevailed and he qualified to drive the largest earth-moving equipment in the world at that time.

He joined his mother and younger sister in California in the late 1960s. Seeing that his dumb little sister graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor's degree in science, he decided to try college. Once started, he didn't want to quit. He finished four majors and two minors at UC Davis. He loved campus life and helped get the KDVS radio station started, including climbing the tower to put up the first broadcast antenna on the Memorial Union. He volunteered as a DJ for years and spent some of the time as station manager.

He and Joe Johnson developed the first motorcycle racetrack on campus near Putah Creek. He was a tuner and motorcycle mechanic for professional racers. He also raced as Stormin' Norman.

He lived in Davis since starting classes at UCD. His daughter, Cady Horobin-Wohlers, graduated from Davis High School and his son, Brice Horobin-Wohlers, is attending Da Vinci High School.

For the last decade he had been a very active member of the Blue Max Kart Club.

He helped plant and tend the native oaks at Grasslands Regional Park and was devastated when the county deliberately dug out 100 acres of oaks this year.

For years, he was owner and CEO of American Bio Catalysts and held several patents.

A celebration of his life will be held when it can be arranged.


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