Wartburg History: Alumni Memories & Stories

Waverly (1890s)
“We had no privacy. Our whole freshman class studied, lived, rested, played, and existed in the room on the southwest corner of the first floor of Old Main. Oil lamps were used for lights, in pairs in four chandeliers, and we had to clean and fill them ourselves. A round oak stove to the corner was heated with maple wood in the fall and hard coal in the winter, and we had to saw and split the wood and carry the coal and ashes in and out.”

Clinton (1920s)
“It was plain that in the absence of women the table manners of young men all but vanished.”

Waverly (1935)
“Wartburg is free from the rivalry, the narrowness, and the extravagance usually connected with the fraternity and sorority system. At Wartburg all students live together in one friendly democratic relationship which welds them together into one loyal unit. They learn to rub shoulders with others, to understand, to appreciate various viewpoints, learn the art of living together, cooperating together, playing together. There they acquire the proper social graces; here they also learn the first principles of self-government, of self-reliance, and of personal responsibility, altogether a wonderful educational experience in living.”

Clinton (1899)
“Several other German students and I have a special friendship, and we try to hold our own with the American students. There is constant friction. The students like to put down the Germans, but my German heritage doesn’t stand for that. I am happy here, there are many opportunities, but it is not a land of milk and honey.”

Clinton (1920s)
“A dramatic group on campus produced at least one play annually in the downtown Clinton Theatre. In the absence of coeds, males were cast in women’s roles, with predictably hilarious outcomes.”

Waverly (1915)
“Although girls and boys met in classes daily, we were forbidden to fraternize in any way beyond the structured meetings of the approved school organizations. Dating a girl wa a risky business, accomplished usually by Sunday afternoon walks along the railroad tracks.”

Clinton (1920s)
“The pattern of social and extracurricular life at the two institutions [Waverly and Clinton] differed markedly. At Clinton there was much less talk about girls and dating, while the extracurricular attention centered on athletics-chiefly baseball and basketball-the orchestra, and the literary societies.”

Waverly (1918)
“We had what seems in retrospect a plethora of activities, orchestra, band, glee clubs, mixed chorus, a debating team (briefly), declamatory contests, a Lutheran Brotherhood club, a student montly newspaper, a year book, a dramatic society, literary societies (everyone was expected to choose one of the three such) and, of course the class organizations. Only in athletics and physical education were we short changed.”

Clinton (1920s)
“On weekends we made forays into the countryside, sometimes pilfering grapes, apples, peaches, watermelons, or strawberries in season; or we rented canoes and explored the shoreline and some of the islands of the Mississippi River. Most of us went to Clinton by trolley Sunday mornings to attend services at Zion Lutheran, and that led occasionally to an invitation to dinner and an introduction to a daughter and some of her friends.”

Waverly (1931)
“Resolved… that brief Chapel talks, based on a word of scripture (no long-winded exhortations) not to exceed 5-8 minutes in length, be given by the teachers appointed by the director.”

1964
Dr. Augie Waltman
“I chose Wartburg College because it had been like a family college for us. I was interested in studying mathematics, and I knew they had a good program. I decided to apply and follow up with my family tradition. I always have enjoyed mathematics, so it was a natural choice for me. I taught at Wartburg while I was a student, and also as part of the faculty.As a student, I enjoyed studying with my friends that were in the same major as I was, and I played football with them for four years. I enjoyed being able to go to worship and participate in the various activities that Wartburg offered.”

1995
Mike P. Elijah
“I had a few close family friends who went to Wartburg College back in the mid and late 1980s. They had a great experience, and I wanted to follow in their footsteps. I was thoroughly impressed with the staff, and everybody helped me along. I played football and appreciated the camaraderie, support, and community. “

2002
Emily J. Mapes
“I wanted to be a veterinarian because I grew up on a farm. One of my friends was looking at going to Wartburg, so I did a campus visit. I enjoyed it and decided that was where I wanted to go. I changed my focus and decided to go into healthcare, and it was a good choice. I loved the community atmosphere, and it was an overall positive environment. Wartburg was a place where I made a lot of friends. I finished my biology degree and then pursued an accelerated nursing program after I graduated. I matured during my time at Wartburg. I got my master’s degree, and I’m a hospital administrator now. The four years at Wartburg did me a lot of good and helped me build my start as a young adult.”

2001
Kay M. Dahlquist
“I grew up near the Quad Cities, and I knew that I didn’t want to be too close to home. I absolutely loved the Meistersinger choir camp I went to with a friend of mine, so I chose Wartburg. I started out in computer science, but I fell in love with my business classes. I loved Gloria Campbell and Lynn Olson. My teachers were all influential in getting me through those four years.”

1955
Norbert L. Gauerke
“The professors at Wartburg College helped me in almost every way I could ever hope for. I’m thankful for that. I know that they accepted me, and I learned a lot from the professors who worked with me. What they taught me those four years that I went to college is outstanding. I had a lot of friends who I met there, and I cherish that.”

2000
Katie J. Bauer (Kelting)
“I chose Wartburg because I wanted to run track. Coach Johnson reached out to me personally and was incredible. My experience at Wartburg was a huge financial blessing and a good learning experience. I felt ready to succeed when I graduated because I had all of the tools I needed. I went to Italy and studied art, and we went to Rome and Florence. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I found my faith at Wartburg and am forever grateful for my time there.”

1977
Beth M. Nelson Chase
“I went to Wartburg College for the Music Department, and there was a possibility of going on a European choir tour in my freshman year. The Music Department, my fellow students, and my colleagues helped form relationships that last to this day. The opportunities I had in music and music therapy helped me develop skills that I still use.”

1979
Suzanne “Sue” M. Cahalan (Patterson)
“I chose Wartburg College because I knew it would be a high level of academic standard. I could participate in instrumental music groups without being a music major. I played flute in the band for four years under Dr. Robert Lee. I have a lot of outstanding memories there, like European tour in spring 1976. I was a history and a political science double major, and a professor named Dr. Hugh Winebrenner was my academic advisor. The professors held up their end of the bargain in terms of providing a rigorous course of study, and at the same time, they were very nurturing toward individual students.”

1971
Martha A. Moore
“After going through a book on every college and university in the United States, Wartburg was my first choice because it had a combined major in English, speech, and journalism. Sam Michaelson, K.D. Briner, Dr. Phillip Kildahl, and Erna Moehl were fantastic. I have a special place in my heart for Mrs. Margaret Garland, who taught journalism and oversaw the Trumpet and the Fortress. I was the feature editor of the Trumpet during my freshman year, the assistant editor in my junior year, and the editor-in-chief during the year of all the Vietnam War protests.’”

1955
Lyle C. Lutz
“My great-grandfather, Friedrich Lutz, was the president of Wartburg College back in the 1880s. His son was a student at Wartburg, and my father was also a student there. I was a fourth-year generation graduate of Wartburg College and Wartburg Theological Seminary. My older brother, Chuck, also went to Wartburg. I lived in a fairly small house trailer just a block off campus for the first year or two. I moved down to the southern part of Waverly, Iowa, when I got married in 1957 during the middle of my time at Wartburg.”

1981
Martin “Marty” P. Buchheim
“I received a good education because my professors were engaged with individual students, which is something I wouldn’t get at a larger public institution. I became friends with the people that lived on the floor with me, and many of those relationships have lasted for more than 50 years. I still get together with a large group of Wartburg alumni from that time period. My education was interesting and fulfilling, so I am a firm believer that you don’t have to go to Ivy League schools to start your life. You can get a good start at smaller institutions even in highly technical fields. You’ll have a different experience and a well-rounded education. The most important thing is to develop the ability to think critically, which will help you understand other aspects of the world that aren’t part of the curriculum.”

2007
Dr. Harrison S. Kibombo
“I’m originally from Uganda in East Africa. I met David Fredrick, who was a recruiter at the time, when I was in high school. He talked to me about Wartburg College, and he convinced me that being a student-athlete was something viable at Wartburg. I had never been to the United States before, so everything was foreign to me – but I made the leap of faith. I studied chemistry, but I also had a chance to do something else I enjoyed. I joined the Soccer Program with Jim Conlon, and that was my family when I got there. They took care of me and helped me assimilate at a very fast pace compared to my peers. We had a lot of success and won several accolades during that time. You never know how long you will have your abilities because the world changes and Wartburg taught me to let my light shine when I get the opportunity.”

2015
Morgan Paige Wessels (Sederburg)
“The interactions with professors were great; they were incredible scholars who were doing great research, and they cared about you. They took the time to explain what they were doing, and it was interesting to have those interactions with the professors instead of the TAs. You could run into your professor two years later, and they would recognize you. That’s something incredibly special that you don’t really find everywhere. I was a history major, and the History Department was phenomenal. My advisor was Dr. Terry Lindell, and every single one of his classes was amazing. Dr. Walther was my senior thesis advisor, and he was a great professor who knew how to tell a story and keep his students engaged. He was such a great teacher that my future husband took another class of his, which is how we ended up sitting next to each other in a Russian history class.”

1994
Christopher J. Newton
“Dr. Torkelson used to be a professor of music, and he was the director of the Castle Singers Choir. I met him a couple of times in high school, and I decided that I wanted to go sing for him. I sang for all four years. During our tour of Australia in my senior year, we stayed with host families, and we visited Brisbane, Melbourne, and Adelaide. I was an exchange student in China for six months, and that was great. I stayed at the university in a dormitory room, and I would go out to the city. It taught me that I could adapt to any environment.”

1973
Kay A. Kent
“I felt at home at Wartburg College. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. I thoroughly enjoyed the campus life, and I liked going to the sporting events. My dream was to be a kindergarten teacher, but then I ventured into the Art Department. I started taking classes, and I enjoyed them so much that I wanted to get a double major. When I left Wartburg College, I felt confident knowing I would be a good teacher. The friendships I made there have lasted a lifetime. My parents were really proud of me because neither of them had gone to college. They were happy I had accomplished my goal.”

1976
Mark G. Peterson, MD, MPH
“I chose to attend Wartburg because it gave me a better financial aid package than the other schools I applied to. When I enrolled, I had a tentative plan, and it worked out. I double majored in chemistry and biology. I met my wife at the Chemistry Club picnic. Her roommate was a member of the club, and she brought my wife along. She had no idea who I was, but I called her up and asked her for a date, and she said yes.”

1983
Elizabeth A. Rickertsen
I was drawn to Wartburg for a special program, where the students lived together in Wartburg Hall. This was 1979, and the program sent students out of the country. It was a discussion-based curriculum. We had classes in Wartburg Hall, and I lived on the third floor. Some women lived on the first floor. The RA also lived on the first floor. We would often hang out on the grand staircase, and the second floor had living facilities for men. I am still friends with some of the other girls from my floor. We still send Christmas cards and communicate through Facebook. We saw each other at various homecoming events, but I live in California. It is hard for us to get together.”

1975
Lora M. Kelly-Benck
“I came from a fairly large high school, and the college’s campus was the same size. It was like a small hometown to me. Dr. Michaelson was my literature professor and was a great listener. I got a teaching job before I graduated from Wartburg, and I was secure having employment right out of school. I met my husband on campus at Wartburg.”

2015
Jenna Rose Manders
“I met my second family at Wartburg. I never dreamed I would meet lifelong friends in college. I always assumed I would get an education and return to a 9-5 job for the rest of my life. While I got a quality education at Wartburg, I could argue I don’t use much of my college degree now. All that said, I still find Wartburg 100% worth it. I met my best friends – a group of nine other girls who I still talk to and see on a regular basis. In addition, I met a multitude of other friends, many of whom I still call upon today. I am forever grateful for the experiences I gained during service trips and Dance Marathon.”

1971
Steven C. Noah
I” arrived on the Wartburg campus in fall 1969 as a 21-year-old transfer student. Within a few weeks, I met four people who changed my life forever. Coach Dick Walker brought me to campus to help build his wrestling team. I had one semester of college eligibility remaining. As a teacher, Coach Walker helped me develop self-respect, but he was more than a coach. He was a champion of the students. Dr. KD Briner also became a friend and mentor. K.D. taught me that a setback was just a second chance, and that failure was really a golden opportunity. Sam Michaelson made me believe that I was special. Sam believed that in some way most of us are special. In October 1969, I met my wife, Jane, Wartburg’s greatest gift to me. Jane and I have lived a marvelous rollercoaster of life with exhilarating highs and spectacular failures. I’ve done business in 15 countries and met many heads of state. All of this was due to the basic training I received at Wartburg College, and I’m very grateful for that training.”