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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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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Zoey Clark Bronsink ‘20
Zoey Marie Clark Bronsink December 24, 1997 — April 15, 2024 Zoey was born December 24, 1997 in Des Moines Iowa. She was the oldest daughter of Brad and Sue Clark. Zoey graduated from Waukee High School where she was active in sports and marching band. Later, she attended Wartburg College. Zoey returned home where…
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Rev. Charles Farnham ’55
Charles Norman Farnham 1935 – 2022 Charles Norman Farnham was born on January 11, 1935, to Malinda Eichmeyer and Henry A. Farnham, in Hampton, Iowa and passed away on October 28, 2022, in Vancouver WA.Charles lived most of his life in Salem Oregon. He moved to Vancouver in 2018.After graduating from seminary, Chuck started his…
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Marcea Moeller Clary ‘53
Marcea C. Clary, 90 of Sioux City, formerly of Sloan, passed away Friday, September 16, 2022. A visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Thursday, September 22nd at Skien Lutheran Church in rural Sloan; with a Prayer Service at 7 pm. Funeral and Burial will held at a later date. Arrangements are with Waterbury Funeral…
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Alta Sanders Morris ’54
Alta Mae Morris, 88, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away March 19, 2022. Alta was born May 21, 1933 in Bellevue, Iowa to Lawrence and Alma Sanders. She played basketball, was Homecoming Queen and Valedictorian of her 1950 Graduating class at Maquoketa High School. Alta also attended Wartburg College. For the year after college, she worked…
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Norman Holzrichter ‘70
Norman Holzrichter February 26, 1946 — March 7, 2022 Norman Holzrichter, 76, of Grayslake, IL, died peacefully at his home surrounded with love by his family. He was born on February 26, 1946, in Chicago, IL, to Hugo and Elsie (Bonk) Holzrichter. He met Susan Brown at Wartburg College and on December 30, 1967, Norman…
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James Mann ’71
James George Mann, resident of Homer Glen, IL, died suddenly and unexpectedly on February 21, 2022 at the age of 73. James is survived by his mother Arlene Mann, his wife Delores Onate, his sons Paul (Meriel), and David (Sherry), the mother of his children Elizabeth Mann, stepson, David Karaffa and four grandchildren, Evan, Sean,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…