Wartburg Castle Illustration Header Banner

Recent Class Notes

Search Class Notes:

  • Todd Amani ’78

    Todd Amani, cherished father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend, colleague, and beloved soulmate of Mary Jo, passed from this life to the next on January 26th, his 71st birthday. His kindness, good humor, generosity, love of play, camaraderie, perseverance in all adversity, creativity, gentle nature, steadfastness, calm wisdom, and courage, especially in this final passage, touched…


  • Marilyn Hersbergen Krauss ’64

    Marilyn Kay Krauss, 83, of Webster City died January 24, 2026. She was born to George and Edith (Hersbergen) Krauss on January 25, 1942. She graduated form Corwith-Wesley High School. After graduating from Wartburg College, she taught fourth grade for forty years in Webster City. She is survived by her sister Ilene (Jim), her brother…


  • Frederick Grawe Jr. ’71

    Frederick Grawe Jr., age 77, of Waverly, Iowa, died Thursday, January 22, 2026, at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Fred was born on November 4, 1948, in Waverly, Iowa, the son of Frederick Sr. and Ruth (Burhow) Grawe. He was raised in Waverly and graduated from Waverly Shell Rock High School in 1967.…


  • Burdette Walters ’73

    Burdette passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital. Burdette Elgin Walters was born on Saturday December 2, 1950, at 10:40 P.M. at Allen Memorial Hospital, Black Hawk Co. Waterloo, Iowa, the only son of Mary (Maria Kaiser) and Eilert Walters Jr. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith December…


  • Betty Waltmann Bergman ’61

    Betty Lou Bergman, 86, of rural Hudson, passed away at home on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. She was born October 4, 1939, in Hudson, daughter of Leo and Alma (Engel) Waltmann. Betty graduated from Hudson High School in 1957, then earned her B.A. in Home Economics from Wartburg College followed by a Master’s Degree in…


  • Wendy Dietrich Meyer ’85

    Wendy Meyer, 64, of Oskaloosa, passed away on the evening of January 14, 2026, at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines. Wendy Lee Meyer, daughter of Wendell Elmer Erwin and Ethel Joy (Nielsen) Dietrich, was born on August 31, 1961, in Price, Utah. When Wendy was young, her family lived in various cities. She graduated from…


  • Richard Koehler ’65

    Obituary for Richard “Dick” Koehler Departed on: January 12, 2026 Richard (Dick) Koehler, age 82, of Tama, Iowa, was born April 10, 1943, in New Hampton, son of Waldon and Arlene (Slack) Koehler. He graduated from Fredericksburg High School and earned a degree in music education from Wartburg College. He taught instrumental music for 19 years.…


  • Logan Ruffridge ’14

    Logan Martin Ruffridge August 29, 1991 — January 8, 2026 Logan Martin Ruffridge, 34, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. Born on August 29, 1991, in Cedar Rapids, Logan brought joy and energy to everyone he met from the…


  • Barbara Henry ’95

    Barbara Henry, 53, died Thursday, January 1, 2026 at her apartment in Cedar Rapids. The only child of Dennis and Shirley (Schatzke) Henry, Barbara Kay Henry was born on July 21, 1972. After completing high school in Urbana, she attended Wartburg College. She was an avid sports fan and was an assistant student coach for…


  • LeEllen “Lonni” Hoffman ’62

    Lonni Hoffmann, 85, of DeWitt, Iowa, passed away in her home on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, with family at her side. LeEllen Grace “Lonni” Hoffmann was born on October 30, 1940, in Green Acres, Davenport, Iowa, to Clarence and Beatrice (Smith) Hoffmann. She was the second oldest of six daughters. The “son her father never…


  • Shirley Rodas Fosse ’81

    Shirley Rodas Fosse, age 98, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Hospital North in Tampa, Florida. We look forward to seeing her in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!  She was born on July 27, 1927, the second daughter to Frank and Emma (Whittman) Rodas in rural Clayton County, Iowa. She was…


  • Sharyn Purcell Christensen ’64

    Sharyn Lee (Purcell) Christensen of Bellevue, WA died on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Peacefull Adult Family Home. Sharyn was born on November 22, 1942, in Beloit, WI to John Spencer Purcell and Helen (Sommer) Purcell. She was raised in Beloit, WI and attended Beloit Memorial High School where she was part of the R.O.T.C.,…


  • Rev. David Hagemann ’77

    On Tuesday December 16, 2025, our brother in Christ, David Roland Hagemann, died at Essentia Health- St. Mary’s Medical Center due to pulmonary complications while battling cancer. David was born to Robert F. Hagemann and Lorraine A. (Kolczaski) on December 2, 1954, in Lawton, Oklahoma. David spent his childhood years growing up in Mendota llinois,…


  • Dr. James Fritschel ’51

    James Erwin Fritschel May 13, 1929 — December 15, 2025 Jim Fritschel was born on May 13, 1929, in Greeley, Colorado. He was originally named “Erwin James,” after his father Erwin (Doc) Fritschel, but Doc and his wife, Irma (Hast), always called him Jim, Jimmy, or James. And it stuck. Jim grew up as the…


  • Dr. Barry Greene ’63

    Barry Raymond Greene, age 84, died on December 13, 2025, in Iowa City, Iowa.  He was born on March 27, 1941, in Clinton, Iowa, to Earl and Mildred Greene. Barry grew up in postwar Clinton, Iowa, where he found joy and freedom in the rhythms of community life: parks, sports and music on the radio,…


  • James Blake ’08 and Christina Schipper ’07

    James Blake ’08 and Christina Schipper ’07, Overland Park, Kansas, were married on Aug. 9, 2025.


  • Brenda Begalske George ’83

    Brenda Le George (nee Begalske), age 66, passed away on December 11, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospice following a four year long battle with breast cancer, surrounded by loved ones. Brenda was born to Walter “Gus” and Donna Begalske on February 7, 1959, in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, as the oldest of three daughters. She…


  • Laurel Smeins Hibbard ’98

    On Monday, December 8, 2025, Laurel Lee (Smeins) Hibbard won her long battle against cancer and passed through death into new life in Christ. Laurel was born on July 2, 1976, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Dennis and Phyllis (Milhous) Smeins, joining big sister Sarah. Her childhood was filled with family, friends, time spent outdoors and…


  • Dr. William Davis ’64

    Dr. William A. “Bill” Davis, 83, a nationally recognized pioneer in the field of in-vitro fertilization, peacefully transitioned into eternal life at his home on December 7, 2025 with family by is side.  Born on November 11, 1942. He devoted his career to giving life.  He was a gifted and compassionate OB-GYN whose work helped…


  • Eleanor Schlueter Arneson ’53

    Eleanor E. Arneson, age 95, of Mount Horeb, passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2025, in Mount Horeb. She was born on October 5, 1930, in Oconomowoc, Wis., the daughter of the Rev. Roland and Anna (Herbener) Schlueter. Eleanor graduated from Monona High School in Monona, Iowa, where she was a basketball star. Following high…


  • Rev. Howard Buenting ’55

    Howard Buenting will be remembered most for his wry sense of humor that not only delighted people but often left people wondering. He was born in Green Bay, WI and was known for his pranks and playfulness. He had a kind and tender soul, and was loved wherever he went because of his ability to…


  • Betty Bakken Meyer Bodine ‘59

    Betty Ann Bodine September 7, 1937 — December 16, 2021 Betty Ann Bakken was born on September 7, 1937, to Walter and Rosella (Rude) Bakken in Decorah, IA. At the age of three, Betty was placed at The Children’s Home in Waverly, Iowa, along with her five siblings, due to her mom’s tuberculosis. At the…


  • Merlin Nomann ‘51

    Merlin (Mel) NomannJune 9, 1928 – October 21, 2021Modesto, California – Merlin (Mel) John Nomann died at home on October 21, 2021, at the age of 93.Mel was born on June 9, 1928, in Palmer Iowa. Mel grew up in Pocahontas Iowa after completing high school in 1947.After high school he obtain a variety of…


  • Lorraine Lynes Chester ‘47

    Lorraine Chester, 94, of Plainfield, Iowa, died on Thursday, July 8, 2021, at Good Neighbor Society Nursing Home in Manchester, Iowa, of heart failure.            Lorraine was born on June 11, 1927, at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Waverly, Iowa, the daughter of James Kendal and Lenora (Kuethe) Lynes.  She was baptized in 1927 and confirmed…


  • Dorothy Prottengeier Meier ‘48

    Dorothy M. Meier, 96, of Wapakoneta, died 3:30 a.m., Mon. June 28, 2021, at the Wapakoneta Manor.She was born July 27, 1924, in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of John Louis and Mary Ann (Erdman) Braun. On Feb. 6, 1943, she married Frederick Eugene Meier, who preceded her in death on May 8, 1986.Dorothy lived a long…


  • Bonita Karmie ‘75

    Bonita (Bonnie) Joy Karmie, 67, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a protracted illness on April 9, 2021, Gulf Breeze, FL. Bonnie was born on November 14, 1953 in Chicago, IL, to Alvin and Geraldine Karmie. She was Baptized on September 13, 1964, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Oaklawn, IL. Bonnie graduated with honors…


  • Rev. George Krumrey ‘51

    George Edward Krumrey, 95, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Edith (Mueller) Krumrey and his wife, Phyllis Christine Krumrey. George is lovingly remembered by his son, David Allen Krumrey (Julie); daughter, Carol Elizabeth Rouse (Garret); and grandchildren: Lauren, Garrett, Gracie, Dylan, and Emma.…