We love hearing from our alumni!
Whether you’ve reached a career milestone, started a new venture, made an impact in your community, or celebrated a personal achievement, your story inspires current and future Knights. Share your accomplishments with us so we can celebrate your success and highlight the many ways Wartburg alumni make a difference in the world.
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All Class Years
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Cheryl Sorensen Matthias ‘65
Cheryl Anne Matthias, age 81, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024. Born on June 23, 1943, in Oelwein, Iowa, to Soren and Vermilia Sorensen, Cheryl lived a life dedicated to education, counseling, and her family. Cheryl is survived by her loving husband, Robert Matthias; her children, Tanya (Ed Kennedy) Matthias and…
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Susan SmolikHagen ‘93
Susan “Suz” Mae SmolikHagen October 19, 1970 – July 8, 2024 Susan Mae Smolik was born in Osage, Iowa in October of 1970. Her dad was working in the field when her mom went into labor, so her mom had to fetch him. He rushed her to the hospital and then went down the street to his…
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Rev. Charles Layton ‘81
Charles Vern Layton September 30, 1958 — July 7, 2024 Rev. Charles Vern Layton (65) of Cedar Rapids. Christ called on St. Peter three times to feed his sheep before Peter got the message. With a BA from Wartburg College, Chuck Layton first planned to teach singing with his clear, strong voice. He loved singing…
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Dr. Merwin Dieckmann ’50
Merwin Richard Dieckmann, MD, 95, of Macon, formerly of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away peacefully on July 6, 2024. Merwin was born November 30, 1928 in Clarksville, Iowa to the late Louis F. and Esther Clara Nordmeyer Dieckmann. The family later moved to Waterloo in 1941. Merwin graduated from West Waterloo High School in 1946. At…
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Jennifer Greenley Downing ‘74
Jennifer A. Downing (nee Greenley), 72, of Mount Laurel, NJ, passed away on July 2, 2024 surrounded by her family at Virtua Hospital in Marlton, NJ.Jen was born on April 13, 1952 in Des Moines, Iowa to parents Jack & Ethelmae (nee Johnson) Greenley. After Jen graduated from Cedar Falls High School in 1970, she continued…
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Barbara Gollnick Henkel ‘59
Barbara M. Henkel, age 86, of Hawthorn Woods, IL, passed away on June 29, 2024. Barbara was born on Sept 3, 1937 to Howard and Mabel Gollnick in Cedarburg, WI. In 1955 Barbara graduated from Cedarburg High School and went on to study Art and Music Education at Wartburg College. She graduated from the University of…
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Ruth Clark Schaff ‘56
Ruth Schaff September 27, 1934 – June 25, 2024 Ruth Schaff (nee Clark), beloved woman of faith, age 89 of Omaha, Nebraska, went home to be with the Lord, on June 25, 2024. Born in Peoria, IL in 1934, Ruth was a graduate of Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, where she earned a degree in…
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Glenyce Schneider Scherer ‘56
Glenyce M. Scherer (nee Schneider) died June 24, 2024, in Chanhassen, MN. Glenyce was born January 7, 1936, to Paul and Lydia Schneider of Waterloo, IA. She attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, after which her adventurous spirit drew her to California to teach. On January 1, 1959, she married David Scherer and together they…
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Kay Johannsen Armstrong ‘61
Kay Ann Armstrong (nee Johannsen), 84, of Meramec Bluffs Assisted Living in Ballwin, Missouri died Saturday, June 22, 2024. She was born in Clinton, Iowa and spent her youth in the farming community of Welton, Iowa where she graduated class valedictorian from Welton High School in 1957. Kay spent two years at Wartburg College in…
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Larry Ray ‘67
Larry Dean Ray, 79, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa passed away on Thursday, June 20, 2024, at Lantern Park Nursing & Rehab Center in Coralville, Iowa. Larry Dean Ray was born on October 10th, 1944, at John McDonald Hospital, in Monticello, Iowa. He was the son of Robert and Nellie (Nagle) Ray. He graduated from Monticello…
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Rev. Myrin Bentz ‘57
Rev. Myrin Bentz passed away on June 19, 2024 in The Dalles, Oregon. Myrin was born November 10, 1935 and was 88 at the time of his passing. All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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Dale Hinrichs ‘69
Darrel Walter Hinrichs December 2, 1946 – June 13, 2024 Darrel Walter Hinrichs, 77, of Blair WI, and formerly of Waverly, IA died Thursday, June 13 at his home. Darrel was born December 2, 1946 in Waverly, Iowa, the son of Walter and Margaret (Wedemeier) Hinrichs. He grew up on the family farm and attended high school…
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Brian Stewart ‘54
Brian MacDonald Stewart joined the angels on June 7, 2024. He passed due to natural causes. Brian was born in Charles City, July 26,1932 to Pauline Artz Stewart and Earl Stewart. Brian is survived by his sister, Diane Stewart Ryan of Rochester, Minnesota; his nephew Chris (Gerry) Casper of Minneapolis, Minnesota; his daughter Kari (Cliff)…
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John Seegers ‘71
John E. Seegers, 75, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City. John was born December 22, 1948, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Mervin John and Eldora Rose (Lobeck) Seegers. He graduated from Linn-Mar High School and obtained a business…
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Kent Cuvelier ‘69
Kent Alton Cuvelier, 80, of New Hartford, Iowa, passed away Friday night, May 31, 2024, at home with his family lovingly at his side. Kent was born July 17, 1943, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, the son of Jean Elaine (Elliott) and Iven Earl Cuvelier. Following his graduation from New Hartford High School in 1961, Kent…
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Nona Beemer Stella ‘67
NONA M. STELLA (nee Beemer) age 79, beloved wife for 56 years of Phil; loving mother of Peter (wife Rossana) and Andrew (wife Laura); devoted grandmother of Gabriella, Luciano, Zola and Frances; cherished daughter of the late Robert “Duck” and Helen (nee Randa) Beemer; sister-in-law of Michael and Mary Jane Stella. Preceded in death by…
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Janice Goeman Larsen ‘55
Janice Larsen (nee Goeman), passed away peacefully on May 24, 2024 in St. Louis, MO. She was born in Madison, South Dakota to (Adelia and John). Janice was a devoted wife, mother, and Oma. She was preceded in death by Wally, her husband of 66 years. She is survived by her son Scott (Heidi) Larsen…
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Judith Weiss Miller ‘67
Judith Ann Miller, age 79, of Woodville, Ohio, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg, Ohio. She was born on Feb. 17, 1945, in Michigan City, Indiana, to Robert and Hilda (Fischer) Weiss. Judith would later graduate from Isaac C. Elston High School in 1963 and the Wartburg College in 1967. On…
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Elaine Hillmann Wilcke ‘51
We mourn the passing of Elaine Marie Wilcke, 94, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake, on Thursday, May 23, 2024. Elaine was born at Grinnell, Iowa on September 28, 1929, daughter of Elmer and Tena Pals Hillmann. On August 15, 1951, she married Ernest W. Wilcke, son of Detlef and Lulu Clausen Wilcke. To this…
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James VanDriel ‘63
James L. VanDriel, age 82, of Eden Prairie, passed from this Earthly life to begin his life in heaven, on May 19, 2024. Family was with him. He passed peacefully while dreaming. Preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Ester VanDriel; brother, Gene VanDriel; and wife, Barbara VanDriel. He will be forever loved and…
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Valerie Gramlich-Broderick ‘06
Valerie Christine Gramlich-Broderick, 41, of Urbandale, IA, passed away on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024, surrounded by her family at the Kavanaugh House in Des Moines, IA. Valerie Christine Gramlich was born August 15th, 1983, in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Gerald (Jerry) and Mary (Berns) Gramlich. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic…
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Rev. Carl Jech ’63
Carl L. Jech10/16/1941 – 09/28/2024Carl died, serenely and with dignity, on September 28, 2024, at Coming Home Hospice in San Francisco, surrounded by family and loved ones. He was born October 16, 1941 in Brainerd, MN, to Rev. Herbert and Helen Jech. He grew up in St. Paul, MN. His parents; and sister, Margaret, died…
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Julie Rhoades DuVal ’92
Julie Kay (Rhoades) DuVal, lifelong educator, beloved friend and devoted follower of Christ passed away at her home in Logan, Iowa on September 24, 2024, at the age of 54. Born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 19, 1970, to D.G. and Peggy Rhoades, Julie attended Crescent Elementary, Kirn Junior High School, and Abraham Lincoln High…
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Patricia Tiffany Hinman ‘65
Patricia Sue Tiffany Hinman passed away after a lengthy illness on September 24, 2024, in McKinney, TX, where she had resided the last 14 years. Pat was born May 9, 1943, to Jessie Vonnie (Davisson) and Howard Milton Tiffany in Dumont, Iowa. She attended Chapin, Iowa, community schools until her senior year, when her school-teacher…
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Beverly Hinkel Shalkhauser ‘65
Beverly left us on September 16, 2024 to dance and sing in heaven. She was born Beverly Kay Hinkel on July 19, 1943 in Waterloo, Iowa to Russell and Maxine (Foster) Hinkel. Her father was killed in WWII and later Maxine married Carl Reisner. Bev graduated from Cedar Falls High School and met her husband…
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Dennis Bigelow ‘65
Dennis Clair Bigelow, 81, of Cedar Falls, passed away at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics on Thursday, September 12, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Sumner on December 1, 1942, son of Clair and Maye (Morf) Bigelow. Denny graduated from West Central Maynard High School with the Class of…
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Arlys Orvella Soeder ‘68
Arlys Lorraine Soeder December 2, 1931 – September 11, 2024 Lorraine Soeder, age 92, of Waverly, Iowa and formerly of Denver, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 11, at Whispering Willows Care Center in Fredericksburg, Iowa. Arlys was born December 2, 1931, in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Helmer and Cora (Stoen) Orvella. She graduated from Decorah High School…
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Julie Whitney Florence ‘85
Julie Irene (Whitney) Florence passed away at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from complications of necrotizing fasciitis. Julie was born on September 29, 1962, in Albany, Georgia, to James and Katherine Whitney. She grew up in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and graduated from Southeast Polk (SEP) High School and Wartburg College.…
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Erin Brown ‘94
Erin Scott Brown January 25, 1972 – September 3, 2024, age 52, of St. Cloud, MN Erin Scott Brown passed away at his home on September 3, 2024. He was born in Mason City, Iowa on January 25, 1972. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School and then attended Wartburg College, receiving a degree in social work.…
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Dr. James Bastian ‘62
Dr. James “Jim” Louis BastianAugust 16, 1940 – September 2, 2024 Jim, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and dedicated chiropractor, passed away at age 84. Born to Louis “Doc” Allen Bastian D.C., and Bernice Eleanora Bastian, Jim lived a life full of purpose and dedication to service, work, and providing for his family. Jim had…
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Kevin Perrinjaquet ‘73
Kevin James Perrinjaquet, 73, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Kevin was born on July 17, 1951, the son of Gerald and Marjorie (Knickerbocker) Perrinjaquet. After graduating from Edgewood-Colesburg High School in 1969, Kevin attended Wartburg College, where he earned a business degree in 1973. Upon graduation,…
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Thomas Havemann ‘67
Thomas H. “Tom” Havemann, 79, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, IA. Tom was born on May 25, 1945, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of William C. Havemann and Bertha A. (Swanson) Havemann. He married Judith M. (Judy) Vorwerk on September 23, 1967, at First…
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Rosella Dirksen Beninga ‘48
Rosella (Rosie) M. Beninga, 97, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away August 27, 2024, at Arlington Place in Grundy Center. Rosie was born on September 19, 1926, in Bancroft, South Dakota, the daughter of Harm and Catherine (Peterson) Dirksen. She graduated from Bancroft High School in 1944. After graduating from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa,…
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Carol Wessels Bye Koeneman ‘66
Carol Ann Wessels Bye Koeneman, age 80, passed away peacefully August 27, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born January 7, 1944 in Independence, Iowa to Verna (Peck) and William Wessels. She was raised in Independence surrounded by her brothers and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Growing up, Carol enjoyed playing the piano, singing, swimming,…
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Rev. Jan Horne ‘63
Pastor Jan Horne, 88, of Robins, IA passed on into the presence of our Savior Monday August 26, 2024. One of three children, Jan was born in Oslo, Norway on February 5th 1936, to parents, Arthur and Solveig Horne. As a child, Jan survived the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War 2. Because of…
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Alberta Brandt Pieper ‘56
Alberta “Boots” Pieper, age 89, of Clara City, Minnesota passed away Monday, August 26, 2024 at Clara City Care Center. Alberta Leona Pieper was born February 1, 1935 to Albert and Minnie (Hesse) Brandt in Denver, Iowa. She grew up in Denver and was baptized on March 3, 1935 and confirmed on April 13, 1949…
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Leona Mortensen Reyelts ‘54
Leona Lena Reyelts March 1, 1932 – August 26, 2024 On the evening of August 26th, God sent a strong wind to raise up the soul of one of His true and faithful servants. Rainbows and lightening decorated the skies as Leona Reyelts, aged 92, died peacefully of natural causes to join her husband, Rev.…
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Richard Larson ‘57
Richard Jeffrey Larson, age 89, died on August 25, 2024, from a fall at his home in Prestbury. He was born February 27, 1935, to Jeffrey and Malene Larson in Earlville, Illinois. He was raised in the Earlville area, attended a one room grade school for seven years, and graduated from the Earlville grade and…
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Kristine Karls Lambert ‘71
Kristine Wendy Lambert December 5, 1948 – August 24, 2024 Kristine Wendy (Karls) Lambert, age 75, of Schaumburg. Beloved wife of the late Julian Raymond Lambert. Beloved daughter of the late Alice Lillian (Erickson) Karls and Robert Matthew Karls. Loving mother of John P. Lambert and Julie A. (Kirk) Dahlen. Dearest grandmother of Emma Dahlen. Dear sister…
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Richard Tillou ‘51
Richard D. Tillou, 95, formerly of Mason City passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at Cascade Creek Memory Care, Rochester, MN. Richard Tillou was born on August 30, 1928, in Richland Center, WI to parents John and Audrey (Thompson) Tillou. Richard graduated from Richland Center High School. He received his Bachelor of Science in…