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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James Devine ’24
James Devine ’24, Council Bluffs, is a graduate student in business at Oglethorpe University, Brookhaven, Ga.
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Marlee Boyle ’24
Marlee Boyle ’24, Janesville, is a kindergarten teacher at St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Waverly.
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Grace Benson ’24
Grace Benson ’24, Mason City, is a graduate student in nutrition and dietetics at Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Mo.
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Olivia Walsh ’23
Olivia Walsh ’23, Hugo, Minn., is a housing case manager at RS EDEN, St. Paul, Minn.
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Malena Rumelhart ’23
Malena Rumelhart ’23, Fairbank, is a PK-6 grade general music instructor in the Wapsie Valley Community Schools.
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Savanna Richardson ’23
Savanna Richardson ’23, Des Moines, is a technician II at Eurofins – Nutrition Analysis Center, Des Moines.
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Kanan Morris ’23
Kanan Morris ’23, Central City, is a mechanical engineer at MODUS, Waterloo.
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Rachel Green ’23
Rachel Green ’23, Pella, is a digital adoption and change management specialist at Vermeer Corp., Pella.
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Brayden Carlson ’23
Brayden Carlson ’23, Waverly, is a material view extender at John Deere, Waterloo.
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Arinda Barthel ’23
Arinda Barthel ’23, Saint Michael, Minn., is a hospice music therapist at Grace Hospice.
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Emma Strong ’22
Emma Strong ’22, Broomfield, Colo., earned a master’s degree in athletic training at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and is an academy assistant athletic trainer at Nashville Soccer Club.
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Maecie Wright Henson ’22
Izach and Maecie Wright ’22 Henson, Waterloo, announce the birth of Rhyder on June 8, 2024. Maecie earned a master’s degree in public health – epidemiology at the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
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Britt Avery ’22
Britt Avery ’22, Clive, is owner of Bloom and Boost, Clive.
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Dr. Londyn Witmer ’21
Dr. Londyn Witmer ’21, West Lawn, Pa., earned a Doctor of Chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, and is an associate chiropractor at Exuberance Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Lakeville, Minn.
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Autumn Voyles ’21
Autumn Voyles ’21, Kenosha, Wis., is a music therapist at Vitas Healthcare.
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Zach Brunkhorst ’21
Zach Brunkhorst ’21, Waterloo, is a district executive with the Boy Scouts of America Winnebago Council.
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Allison Bouffard Klaassen ’20
Allison Bouffard Klaassen ’20, Yukon, Okla., is a graduate student in occupational therapy at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.
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Colin Jacobs ’19
Colin Jacobs ’19, Rochester, Minn., is a security ambassador at Mayo Clinic.
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Brian Hamilton ’19
Brian Hamilton ’19, Littleton, Colo., earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the Chicago School and is a crisis counselor at WellPower, a nonprofit helping connect underserved populations to mental health services.
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Abigail Mokhtary Skiba ’18
Robert Jr. and Abigail Mokhtary ’18 Skiba, Royalton, Minn., announce the birth of Loretta on March 29, 2024.
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.,…
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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,…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Diane Christensen Melrose ’72
Diane Pearl (Christensen) Melrose, age 88, of Charles City, was called home to her Lord on November 29, 2025. Born on November 17, 1937, in Montevideo, Minnesota to Arthur and Norma (Larsen) Christensen, Diane grew up surrounded by faith, family, and community. She lived in Montevideo until 1951, then moved with her family to Pipestone,…
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Dale Pedersen ’72
Dale Allen Pedersen, 75, of Waukee, IA passed away on November 24, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer compounded by a recent stroke. His wife, Kathy, was by his side. Dale was born in the office of Dr. H. Frank Givens of West Bend, IA on December 8,1949 weighing 9 lbs. 10 oz.,…
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James Ristau ’73
James Conrad Ristau, 85, of Hampton, Iowa, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2025, at Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. James Conrad Ristau was born on August 23, 1940, to Clarence and Bernice (Hockenson) Ristau at the family home in Thornton, Iowa. Growing up with two sisters in a close family home, James loved Sundays which…
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Nancy Larrison Clinton-Ross ’93
Nancy Jeanne (Larrison) Clinton-Ross, 77, of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away on November 19, 2025, at her home. Nancy was born on October 9, 1948, in New Castle, Indiana, the daughter of James and Sylvia (McDaniel) Larrison. She graduated in 1966 from Chrysler High School in New Castle. Nancy married Robert Lawson in 1967; the couple…
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Charles Harken ’78
Charles Alan Harken, of Cedar Rapids, died on November 19, 2025 in St. Luke’s Hospital from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. Charlie was born on August 31, 1956, the 5th of 8 children, to Irene and Gerald Harken of Shell Rock, Iowa. He grew up in Shell Rock, graduated from Waverly-Shell Rock High School in 1974…
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Janette Hofler Lien ’77
Janette Sue Lien passed away peacefully on November 16, 2025 at the age of 72. She was well known in the community for her career as an educator in the Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock School District having taught a variety of science classes over her nearly 37-year career. She served on the School Board, was active in…
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Frances Truckenbrod Kline ’57
Frances “Franny” Kline, 88, of Solon and formerly from Waverly died on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the Solon Care Center in Solon. All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.