Career
A 1926 graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Sarge arrived in Eau Claire as a band, orchestra and history teacher for the local high school in 1929. He had a profound impact on the band program, increasing participation from 14 students to 275 by the time he retired in 1963. In 1934, he replaced William Keller as director of the Eau Claire Municipal Band.
A master showman whose polished performances featured the finest singers and instrumentalists in the area, and spectacular lighting effects that were an integral component of each concert, he caused the Thursday evening event to become a major summertime attraction with attendance often approaching 4,000.
In 1992, 12 years after his retirement, the bandshell in Owen Park was named for him. In 2010, a memorial plaque was installed at Owen Park in recognition of his half century of musical contributions to the community.
