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.
Search Class Notes:
All Class Years
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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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Jerry Bishop ‘67
Jerry Edward Bishop, 79, of Lafayette and formerly of Monticello, passed away on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at The Springs in Lafayette. He was born on October 9, 1944 in Urbana, OH to the late Marvin and Ada (Smith) Bishop. He was a graduate of Appleton High School in Wisconsin and Wartburg College in Iowa.…
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James Niemann ‘58
James “Jim” L. Niemann Obituary James L. Niemann, 87, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 6, at Community Memorial Hospital in Sumner surrounded by his family and friends. Jim was born December 26, 1936, to Paul & Emma (Klemp) Niemann. Jim graduated from Sumner High School in 1954 where he was a star athlete in…
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Kathlene Hoffman ‘67
Kathlene L. Hoffman, 80, of Rockford, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, May 4, 2024. She was born in Minnesota on September 24, 1943, the daughter of Mary and Arthur Kriesel. She married the love of her life, Robert Hoffman, in Branson, Missouri in 2010. Kathlene received a Master’s degree in Elementary Education.…
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Myrna Zirk Fauska ‘62
Myrna E. (Zirk) Fauska, 86 of Kendall passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at her home. She was born on April 10, 1938, to Herbert and Grace (Sweet) Zirk in St. Paul, MN. Growing up, Myrna would spend her summers with her grandparents on the Zirk family farm. After high school, she attended Wartburg…
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Jane Broughton Thompson ‘69
Jane Arlene Thompson (nee Broughton, formerly Brinkman) died peacefully on April 29, 2024, in her “happy place” of Fort Myers, Florida, surrounded by family and friends.Jane was born in West Union, Iowa to Arlene (Boess) and Walter Broughton. Her family moved to Dubuque, and she graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1965. She then spent two years…
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Henry Friedrich ‘58
Henry Bruce Friedrich died at his home in North Liberty, Iowa, on April 24, 2024, after a brief illness, surrounded by his wife, three children, and daughter-in-law. Bruce was born on October 20, 1936, to Henry and Margaret Wilson Friedrich of Bessie, Oklahoma. He grew up in a family of Germans from Russia, including his…
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Charles “Pete” Griffin Jr. ‘73
Our father, Charles Peter Griffin, Jr or “Pete,” sadly passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at Cedar Court Senior Living Center in Adams, Minn., at the age of 72. Pete was born July 4, 1951, in Des Moines, Iowa, to Martha (Gardner) and Charles Griffin, Sr (Chuck). In his youth, dad loved sports, especially baseball…
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Philip Truckenbrod ‘64
Philip Charles Truckenbrod, passed away after a sudden illness on April 22, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri, with his daughter, Emily, by his side. He was born on the family farm in Paw Paw, Illinois to Edgar John and Evelyn Cecelia Margaret (Schmitz) Truckenbrod on August 25, 1942. During his youth, Philip was active is…
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Abby Saathoff Doxey ‘09
Abbey Lee Doxey, 36, of Waverly, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at UnityPoint Health/Allen Hospital in Waterloo. She was born June 24, 1987, in Waterloo, daughter of Robert and Laurene (Smith) Saathoff. Abbey graduated from Clarksville High School where she played Basketball and Volleyball with the Class of 2005 then from Wartburg College…
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Eileen Wolken Schurr ’56
Eileen Ruth Schurr, 88, of Castle Rock, Colorado went home to be with the Lord on April 19, 2024. Eileen was one of 7 children born to Henry and Dora (Eilers) Wolken of Urbana, Illinois. Eileen was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers Robert Wolken, Dick Wolken, Martin Wolken and Walter Wolken; and…
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Peter Tundel ’69
Tundel, Peter C. Age 76 of Eden Prairie passed away April 17, 2024, after a battle with cancer. He is survived by wife, Sandi; daughter, Nikki (Tim), daughter, Laura (Aaron), and son, Mark (Jason). Pete was smart, funny, caring and determined. He was a unique mix of optimist and cynic. And he was extremely loved.…
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Ronald Fischer ‘68
Ronald (Ron) Alwin Fischer was born on August 7, 1946 to Edith and Marvin Fischer in Mendota, Illinois. He died in his Tonganoxie, Kansas home on April 15, 2024. After graduating from Mendota High School in 1964, Ron earned his college degree at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He then began pursuing an advanced degree…
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Roger Pagel ’63
Roger Allan Pagel October 22, 1941 – April 3, 2026 Roger graduated from Tama High School, and also Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where he played football. He met Marty in 1962 at Wartburg and they were married on August 21, 1965. Roger was a PE teacher at Mission Middle School from 1970-1999. He was…
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Robert Beener ’63
Robert “Bob” Beener, 97, of Cedar Falls, IA, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2026, at Western Homes Creekside Living in Grundy Center. Bob was born June 14, 1928, in Waterloo, IA, the third son of Charles and Lydia (Speicher) Beener. His family included-two older brothers, Irvin and LaVerne, two younger sisters, Mary, and Janice “Jenny,”…
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H. DeVere Creger ’52
H. DeVere Creger of Waverly, Iowa passed away on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at the age of 95. Hillis DeVere Creger was born November 7, 1930, the son of Hillis R. and Elna L. (French) Creger in Plainfield, Iowa. He graduated from Plainfield High School and then attended Wartburg College for two years. On March…
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Marianna Schutter King ’83
Marianna King of Waverly, Iowa passed away after a brief illness and one day of hospitalization from cardiopulmonary arrest at the Waverly Health Center, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at the age of 81. Marianna was born July 30, 1944, the daughter of Alyle A. and Helen (Lounsbury) Schutter, in a military hospital at Barksdale…
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Janet Krafka Rohrer ’68
Janet Krafka “Fritz” Rohrer passed away peacefully at home on March 9, 2026 at 91 years of age. Fritz lived a life full of family, faith and friendships. Christened Janet, she earned her nickname Fritz from her father who shortened it from Snickelfritz – a term of endearment for an energetic, curious child. The name…
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Janet Ames Lockwood ’64
Janet Lockwood, 87, of Sheffield, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital in Belmond. Jan (Janet) Lockwood was born in Atlantic, Iowa, April 23, 1938. Parents were Wyman and Eva Ames. She graduated from Madrid High School in 1956, then Waldorf Junior College in Forest city in 1958. She taught…
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Robert Johnsen ’61
Robert J. “Bob” “Bubba” Johnsen, 86, of Beatrice, passed away Sunday morning, March 8, 2026, at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln. He was born August 19, 1939, in Beatrice to William and Grace (Wallman) Johnsen. Bob graduated from Beatrice High School and later attended Wartburg College. On December 31, 1969, he married Donna Doehler…
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Rev. Dr. Herman Diers ’49
Herman Diers, a wise and compassionate man of exceptional grace and generosity, a community builder committed to peace and an end to hunger, died March 7, 2026. He was 97. Born in Hampton and raised in Lutheran parsonages across eastern Iowa, Herman earned degrees from Wartburg College (BA), Wartburg Seminary (MDiv), Northwestern (MA), and Berkeley…
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James Pilgrim ’60
James W. Pilgrim, 87, of Clear Lake, Iowa, passed away peacefully on March 6, 2026 at MercyOne Medical Center in Mason City. James Walter was born July 3, 1938, in Tracy, Minnesota, the son of Rev. Paulus W. Pilgrim and Elsie (Bartz) Pilgrim. Jim began his education in Austin, Minnesota, and attended country school for…
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Martha Farlow Knapp ’66
Martha Kay Farlow Knapp, 81, of Winterset, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2026 at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Martha Kay McKeever was born in Des Moines, Iowa on May 21, 1944 to William McKeever and Kathryn (Gordon) McKeever. Her parents were divorced and her mother later married Billy W. Farlow, who adopted…
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James Waterbury
James Bentley Waterbury died March 2, 2026, at Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls, after a short battle with metastatic melanoma. He was 78. Jim was born August 2, 1947, the third of four children born to Charles Arthur and Mary Elizabeth Stoddard Waterbury. His mother once told him he was her favorite because her…
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Sue Engel Dunshee ’62
Sue Ann Engel Dunshee, 85, of Houston, TX went home to be with our Heavenly Father on Monday, March 2, 2026, at her home, Spring Cypress Senior Living in Cypress, TX. Sue was born September 30, 1940 in Cedar Falls, IA, the second of five siblings born to the late Paul and Mildred Engel. After…
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Darrell Arntzen ’68
Darrell Lynn Arntzen, a beloved figure in his community and a park ranger, passed away on March 1, 2026, at Bickford of Urbandale, Urbandale, Iowa. He was born on July 26, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Orie Edgar and Mary Priscilla (Murray) Arntzen. Darrell grew up in Iowa, graduating from Cedar Rapids…
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Carol Suckow Wolf ’65
Carol J. Wolf, 82, of Oelwein, Iowa, died Saturday, February 28, 2026, at Arlington Place Assisted Living in Oelwein. Carol Jean Suckow was born July 14, 1943, in West Union, Iowa, the daughter of Charles Lewis and Helen Mildred (Springer) Suckow. She graduated from North High School and then earned her bachelor’s degree from Wartburg…
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Joyce Mueller Paxson ’60
Joyce M. Paxson was born on September 11, 1938, to Adolph Mueller and Mary Chambers in Manchester, Iowa. She is preceded in death by her husband William T. Paxson, daughters Katie Paxson and Terri Bennett, and sister Jackie Gibson. Joyce is well-known for her passion and dedication to music. Receiving her training at the Wartburg…
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Todd Wollenzien ’87
It is with deep sadness we announce Todd Wollenzien, 60, passed away on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at MercyOne Hospital in West Des Moines, Iowa. After a long battle with cancer, he passed peacefully in his sleep with his family at his bedside, after a day full of exchanging stories about him and his contagious…
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Robert Selk ’59
Robert Rudolph Koeppen Selk, 89, of Dysart, Iowa, passed away on February 22, 2026, just 25 days after celebrating his 89th birthday. Robert will be buried in the Dysart Cemetery. He was born on January 28, 1937, to Rudolph and Louise Selk. Bob graduated from Dysart High School in 1955 and later attended Wartburg…
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Verona Orth Zelle ’52
Verona Zelle, 95, of Waverly, Iowa died on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly. Verona Ruth Zelle was born on January 21, 1931, and raised in rural Jesup in Black Hawk County, Iowa, the fifth daughter of six children born to Louis A. and Olinda M. (Riensche) Orth. She was…
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Daniel Glommen ’63
Daniel Stanley Glommen February 13, 1941 — February 20, 2026 Daniel Stanley Glommen was born on February 13, 1941, in Wilmington, Ohio. As a son of an Air Force officer, Dan and his siblings lived in many areas, including Washington Courthouse, Ohio; Levittown, New York; and Frankfurt, Germany. At the age os 12, he and his family…
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Carol Burdick Rudey ’73
Carol Anne Rudey, 74, of Racine, WI, died of complications from a fall at Aurora SummitOconomowoc Hospital on Friday, February 20th, 2026, surrounded by family in her finalmoments. The fall took place in early December.She is a true testament to love and determination in her lifelong battle against RheumatoidArthritis.Carol was dedicated to her family and…