Wisconsin printmaker Raymond Gloeckler was born in Portage on December 13, 1928. An early interest in art led him to take up drawing from an early age and in high school he was given a position as illustrator for the school paper. Despite his interest and apparent skill, he began his formal college education with the intent to become a pharmacisct. However, by his sophmore year he switched to an art major and he received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1950 and his Masters from Oshkosh in 1952. While completing his studies he took a job through the government teaching art in rural schools, traveling with another teacher who taught music. After graduation Gloeckler began his secondary career in teching, beginning with a position at University of Wisconsin from 1953 to 1957. He then relocated to Flint, Michigan, where he taught as a professor at Flint Community College for one year, then transferred to Eastern Michigan University at Ypsilanti until 1961. Gloeckler then accepted a professorship once more at his alma mater, where he was employed from 1961 until his retirement in 1993, gaining a reputation as a greatly admired and supportive educator among his students. He continues to work in his studio in Madison. 

Among awards received for his achievments are the Wisconsin Ar Education Association's Award of Distinguished Service (1997); induction as a Fellow of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters (2002); and the Wisconsin Visual Art Lifetime Achievment Award (2009), among others.