
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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Kelsey Padderud Baker ’05, Waverly, is principal at River Hills School, Cedar Falls.
Angela Neptun Hudelson ’03, Peoria, Ill., earned a degree in social work from the University of Illinois and is a mental health clinician at FamilyCore.
Elaina Meier ’01, Madison, Wis., earned a doctoral degree in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Aaron Buzza ’01, Macon, Ga., was named one of the 200 Most Influential of Georgia’s Creative Industries by Georgia Entertainment’s Creative Economy Journal.
Dan Lahey ’99, Johnston, is executive vice president and chief financial and investment officer at LCS, Des Moines.
Dr. Jamie Kling ’99, Portage, Wis., received the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s Faculty Excellence Award. The award acknowledges initiative, enthusiasm, collaboration, and commitment.
Dr. Richard Stapleton ’97, North Liberty, is an academic coordinator – counselor education and supervision field experience at Walden University, Minneapolis. He is chair of the National Board of Certified Counselors, serving through June 2025.
Chad Gerbracht ’96, Wellsburg, is an elementary school teacher in the Dike-New Hartford Schools.
Mark Albertsen ’96, Dysart, is an elementary principal in the East Marshall Community School District.
Tina Cox Vogelmann ’95, Lake Geneva, Wis., earned a master’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, Md., and is superintendent at Hartland Lakeside School District, Hartland.
James Cassmann ’95, Mabel, Minn., is an administrative assistant at Mayo Clinic-Rochester for the General Internal Medicine International Clinic and faculty development.
Alexis Oberdorfer ’94, West Saint Paul, Minn., is senior vice president of services for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
Van Beach ’94, Cumming, is global head of Life Actuarial Solutions with Aon.
Jeff Martin ’92, Kennesaw, Ga., a journalist for the Associated Press, produced Lethal Restraint. The project is a series of stories, photos, videos, and a PBS Frontline documentary examining the deaths of more than 1,000 people after encounters with police.
David Gerleman ’91, Alexandria, Va., a history instructor at George Mason University, Fairfax, is a 2024-25 Fulbright Scholar Award recipient and is teaching two courses at the University of Debrecen, Hungary.
Kathryn Buck Strong ’90, Broomfield, Colo., retired from the city of Lakewood after 26 years as a teacher and education coordinator for Head Start. She now serves as an office administrator with Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder.
Kevin Kelling ’88, Grand Rapids, Mich., is a mortgage loan originator at Macatawa Bank.
Stu Fritz ’88, Holland, Mich., retired after 31 years as head baseball coach and associate professor of kinesiology at Hope College. He is serving part time as an athletics and philanthropy liaison.
Jan Hazlewood Plane ’87, Brandon, Wis., earned the ACM-SIGCSE Broadening Participation in Computing Award. She was also awarded the May Bumby Severy Award for Teaching Excellence at Ripon College.
Jamie Clemente De Geer ’84, Valley Park, Mo., celebrated 25 years as director of music ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Manchester. She serves in various roles from worship and youth leadership to choir director.
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…
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,…
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 (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 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 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 (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…
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.…