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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Shanna Seiler Savageau ’11
Shanna Seiler Savageau ’11, Woodbury, Minn., is senior social worker – contracted case management coordinator for Anoka County.
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Katie Zittergruen Henriksen ’11
Ryan and Katie Zittergruen ’11 Henriksen, Waverly, announce the birth of Elyse on March 13, 2024.
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Rev. Bridget Whately ’10
The Rev. Bridget Whately ’10, Comstock Park, Mich., earned a Master of Divinity at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary and is pastor at Peace Lutheran Church, Sparta, Mich.
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Dr. John Kuckelman ’09
Dr. John Kuckelman ’09, DuPont, Wash., is serving in the U.S. Army as an active duty cardiothoracic surgeon deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
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Travis Bockenstedt ’09
Travis Bockenstedt ’09, Denver, Colo., is president and chief experience officer of Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care.
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Brittany Brugman ’08
Abhishek Khanna and Brittany Brugman ’08, Ankeny, were married June 2, 2024.
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Marla Stewart ’06
Marla Stewart ’06, Gilbert, Ariz., is a human resources partner at Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company.
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Karen Connelly Newcomb ’06
Joe and Karen Connelly ’06 Newcomb, Cedar Falls, announce the birth of Isaiah on Dec. 14, 2023.
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Tyler Hubbard ’06
Tyler Hubbard ’06, Lee’s Summit, Mo., is a service manager at MD Auto Repair, Kansas City, Mo.
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Kelsey Padderud Baker ’05
Kelsey Padderud Baker ’05, Waverly, is principal at River Hills School, Cedar Falls.
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Angela Neptun Hudelson ’03
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.
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Elaina Meier ’01
Elaina Meier ’01, Madison, Wis., earned a doctoral degree in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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Aaron Buzza ’01
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.
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Dan Lahey ’99
Dan Lahey ’99, Johnston, is executive vice president and chief financial and investment officer at LCS, Des Moines.
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Dr. Jamie Kling ’99
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.
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Dr. Richard Stapleton ’97
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.
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Chad Gerbracht ’96
Chad Gerbracht ’96, Wellsburg, is an elementary school teacher in the Dike-New Hartford Schools.
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Mark Albertsen ’96
Mark Albertsen ’96, Dysart, is an elementary principal in the East Marshall Community School District.
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Tina Cox Vogelmann ’95
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.
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James Cassmann ’95
James Cassmann ’95, Mabel, Minn., is an administrative assistant at Mayo Clinic-Rochester for the General Internal Medicine International Clinic and faculty development.
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Beverly Hinkel Shalkhauser ‘65
Beverly left us on September 16, 2024 to dance and sing in heaven. She was born Beverly Kay Hinkel on July 19, 1943 in Waterloo, Iowa to Russell and Maxine (Foster) Hinkel. Her father was killed in WWII and later Maxine married Carl Reisner. Bev graduated from Cedar Falls High School and met her husband…
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Dennis Bigelow ‘65
Dennis Clair Bigelow, 81, of Cedar Falls, passed away at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics on Thursday, September 12, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Sumner on December 1, 1942, son of Clair and Maye (Morf) Bigelow. Denny graduated from West Central Maynard High School with the Class of…
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Arlys Orvella Soeder ‘68
Arlys Lorraine Soeder December 2, 1931 – September 11, 2024 Lorraine Soeder, age 92, of Waverly, Iowa and formerly of Denver, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 11, at Whispering Willows Care Center in Fredericksburg, Iowa. Arlys was born December 2, 1931, in Decorah, Iowa, the daughter of Helmer and Cora (Stoen) Orvella. She graduated from Decorah High School…
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Julie Whitney Florence ‘85
Julie Irene (Whitney) Florence passed away at Boone Hospital in Columbia, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5, 2024, from complications of necrotizing fasciitis. Julie was born on September 29, 1962, in Albany, Georgia, to James and Katherine Whitney. She grew up in Pleasant Hill, Iowa, and graduated from Southeast Polk (SEP) High School and Wartburg College.…
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Erin Brown ‘94
Erin Scott Brown passed away at his home on September 3, 2024. He was born in Mason City, Iowa on January 25, 1972. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School and then attended Wartburg College, receiving a degree in social work. Erin currently worked at Becker Public Schools as a social worker. Previous employment includes…
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Dr. James Bastian ‘62
Dr. James “Jim” Louis BastianAugust 16, 1940 – September 2, 2024 Jim, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and dedicated chiropractor, passed away at age 84. Born to Louis “Doc” Allen Bastian D.C., and Bernice Eleanora Bastian, Jim lived a life full of purpose and dedication to service, work, and providing for his family. Jim had…
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Kevin Perrinjaquet ‘73
Kevin James Perrinjaquet, 73, of Edgewood, Iowa, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Kevin was born on July 17, 1951, the son of Gerald and Marjorie (Knickerbocker) Perrinjaquet. After graduating from Edgewood-Colesburg High School in 1969, Kevin attended Wartburg College, where he earned a business degree in 1973. Upon graduation,…
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Thomas Havemann ‘67
Thomas H. “Tom” Havemann, 79, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, IA. Tom was born on May 25, 1945, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of William C. Havemann and Bertha A. (Swanson) Havemann. He married Judith M. (Judy) Vorwerk on September 23, 1967, at First…
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Rosella Dirksen Beninga ‘48
Rosella (Rosie) M. Beninga, 97, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away August 27, 2024, at Arlington Place in Grundy Center. Rosie was born on September 19, 1926, in Bancroft, South Dakota, the daughter of Harm and Catherine (Peterson) Dirksen. She graduated from Bancroft High School in 1944. After graduating from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa,…
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Carol Wessels Bye Koeneman ‘66
Carol Ann Wessels Bye Koeneman, age 80, passed away peacefully August 27, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born January 7, 1944 in Independence, Iowa to Verna (Peck) and William Wessels. She was raised in Independence surrounded by her brothers and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Growing up, Carol enjoyed playing the piano, singing, swimming,…
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Rev. Jan Horne ‘63
Pastor Jan Horne, 88, of Robins, IA passed on into the presence of our Savior Monday August 26, 2024. One of three children, Jan was born in Oslo, Norway on February 5th 1936, to parents, Arthur and Solveig Horne. As a child, Jan survived the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War 2. Because of…
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Alberta Brandt Pieper ‘56
Alberta “Boots” Pieper, age 89, of Clara City, Minnesota passed away Monday, August 26, 2024 at Clara City Care Center. Alberta Leona Pieper was born February 1, 1935 to Albert and Minnie (Hesse) Brandt in Denver, Iowa. She grew up in Denver and was baptized on March 3, 1935 and confirmed on April 13, 1949…
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Leona Mortensen Reyelts ‘54
Leona Lena Reyelts March 1, 1932 – August 26, 2024 On the evening of August 26th, God sent a strong wind to raise up the soul of one of His true and faithful servants. Rainbows and lightening decorated the skies as Leona Reyelts, aged 92, died peacefully of natural causes to join her husband, Rev.…
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Richard Larson ‘57
Richard Jeffrey Larson, age 89, died on August 25, 2024, from a fall at his home in Prestbury. He was born February 27, 1935, to Jeffrey and Malene Larson in Earlville, Illinois. He was raised in the Earlville area, attended a one room grade school for seven years, and graduated from the Earlville grade and…
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Kristine Karls Lambert ‘71
Kristine Wendy Lambert December 5, 1948 – August 24, 2024 Kristine Wendy (Karls) Lambert, age 75, of Schaumburg. Beloved wife of the late Julian Raymond Lambert. Beloved daughter of the late Alice Lillian (Erickson) Karls and Robert Matthew Karls. Loving mother of John P. Lambert and Julie A. (Kirk) Dahlen. Dearest grandmother of Emma Dahlen. Dear sister…
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Richard Tillou ‘51
Richard D. Tillou, 95, formerly of Mason City passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at Cascade Creek Memory Care, Rochester, MN. Richard Tillou was born on August 30, 1928, in Richland Center, WI to parents John and Audrey (Thompson) Tillou. Richard graduated from Richland Center High School. He received his Bachelor of Science in…
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Paul Beckman ‘54
Paul Lester Beckman, 92, of West Burlington, died Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at his home. Born June 14, 1932, in Prairie Grove, he was the son of Lester and Esther (Flachman) Beckman. He attended Flint River School and was a 1950 graduate of Danville High School and a graduate of Wartburg College. He served as…
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Kathryn Fritschel Gerard ‘58
Kathryn Annette Fritschel Gerard August 3, 1936 – August 15, 2024 Kathryn (Kay) Annette Gerard, née Fritschel, 88 of Sugar Land, Texas, died peacefully at home on Thursday, August 15th surrounded by her family. Kay was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, the second child of Reverend Walter and Nina Fritschel, and grew up in Charles…
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Loretta Schmitt Blain ’56
Loretta “Lorrie” Irene Blain, age 88, passed away in her home in Costa Mesa, CA on August 14, 2024. Born on June 29, 1936, in Bismarck, North Dakota to Bertha and Jacob Schmitt, Lorrie lived a life full of love, devotion, and service. Growing up on a farm in Wishek, ND, Lorrie moved to Waverly, Iowa to…
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Roger Swanson ’52
Roger D. Swanson was born February 6, 1931, in Manchester, Iowa, to Anton V. and Elsie (Reck) Swanson. He died on August 13, 2024, at the Great River Care Center in McGregor, Iowa. Roger attended grade school at Rural Hazel Green Township in Delaware County, Iowa and graduated from Buck Creek Consolidated High School in…