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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Robert Klemesrud Jr. ’70
Robert Duane Klemesrud, Jr., age 76, of Osage peacefully passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center after a courageous battle with colon cancer. Bob was born on August 18, 1948, to Robert Sr. and Joan (Ryner) Klemesrud at Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City, Iowa. Bob completed his…
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Kent Dahlquist ’65
Kent Glenn Dahlquist, age 83 passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025 in St. Cloud, MN in the arms of his loving wife and children. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on April 21, 2025 at Hope Covenant Church in St. Cloud, MN with visitation one hour prior to the service. A…
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Gregory Puls ’71
Gregory Puls peacefully departed from this world March 28, 2025, with family at his side after a battle of cancer, Hydrocephalus (NPH), and Parkinsonism. Gregory Wayne Puls was born January 26,1949 in Grinnell, IA to Wayne and Wilma (Jean) Puls. He has one brother, Randy Puls, who resides in Ft Dodge, IA. Greg spent most…
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Charles Steahr ’78
Charles “Chuck” Albert Steahr, age 68, of Centerville, IA, passed away surrounded by his family at the Mercy One Medical Center on March 25th, 2025, after a short battle with cancer. He was born in Muscatine, IA on September 26, 1956, the son of Charles and Betty (Workman) Steahr. He attended the Muscatine High School…
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Wayne Slack ’59
Wayne T. Slack, 88, of Ackley, Iowa, passed peacefully at Grand JiVante` on Sunday, March 23, 2025. After a long stay in the hospital, he died from complications of reoccurring lymphoma. Wayne was born on January 30, 1937, in New Hampton, Iowa, the son of Ted and Arlene Slack. He was baptized on March 7th,…
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David Rasmussen ’62
David Allen Rasmussen, age 86, passed away Saturday, March 22nd 2025 in the company of his family. Friends may greet the family during visitation at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. A rosary will be said for all who wish to pray with the family prior…
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Arthur Frick
Arthur C. Frick II, 101, of Waverly died on March 10, 2025, at the Waverly Health Center in Waverly. Arthur Charles Frick was born on October 15,1923, the son of Arthur Clement and Nola Ann (Mangum) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was baptized in 1923 and confirmed in 1935, both at the 1st Methodist Episcopal Church…
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Charlotte Scholl Spragg ’62
Charlotte Spragg passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 17, 2025, following surgery in Ft. Myers, Florida. Born in 1937 to Beatrice and Daniel Scholl, she was the third of seven children. She graduated from Waterloo West High School and went on to attend the University of Northern Iowa and Wartburg College. She was united in…
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Jane Buenzow Rudolph ’58
Jane Jeanette Rudolf, age 88, died Sunday, March 16, 2025, in the SpringHills Memory Care Unit, in Middletown, Ohio. Jane was born in Minneapolis on August 6, 1936, and adopted by Fred and Ida Buenzow, through Lutheran Social Services. Jane was baptized on October 13, 1936 in Minneapolis, MN and confirmed at Mansfield Lutheran Church…
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Ruth Albrecht Moeller ’51
Ruth Renata Moeller, 93, of Waverly, died Sunday, March 16, 2025, at the Tripoli Nursing Home in Tripoli, Iowa. Ruth was born September 29, 1931, in New Hampton, Iowa, the daughter of Otto and Renata (Schott) Albrecht. She was baptized the following day in the New Hampton Hospital. She first lived in Waucoma where she…
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James Peters ’63
James J. Peters of Freeport, IL died March 3, 2025 at Winn Prairie in Freeport, IL. He was born in Fond du Lac, WI on February 3, 1942. He was the son of Wilbert and Helen (Miller) Peters. Jim’s early life was spent on his father’s livestock farm. He graduated from Goodrich High in 1959.…
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Lucille Lunde Hackbart ’52
Lucille Karleen Hackbart (Lunde), age 94, of Golden Valley, passed on March 1, 2025. Born in Decorah, IA, she attended High School in Monona, IA, and graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Lucille taught 3rd grade in the Robbinsdale School District and substituted in Mpls. schools. Active in the community, Lucille was a member…
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Royce Kreul ’65
Royce E. Kreul, age 82, a 53-year resident of Oregon, Wis., died of congestive heart failure on February 26, 2025. Royce was born on November 18, 1942, in Fennimore, Wis., to Leonard and Wilma Kreul. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Fennimore. He attended Fennimore Public schools participating in football,…
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Gwenda Geyer Groskurth ‘58
November 14, 1936 — February 16, 2025 Albert Lea Gwenda Ann (Gwen) Groskurth, 88, of Albert Lea, MN, passed away at her home on February 16, 2025. Gwen was born at her parent’s home in rural Fayette County, IA, on November 14, 1936. She was the only child of her parents, Minnie Rose Springer Geyer…
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Joan Matt Oelke ‘49
Joan Adel Oelke age 96 of New Hampton died Thursday, February 13, 2025 at MercyOne New Hampton Medical Center. Joan was born Aug. 7,1928 to Will and Emilie (Mueller) Matt on the home farm in National, Farmersburg Township in Clayton County, Iowa. She was the youngest of four sisters. Joan was baptized at home by…
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Gordon Kopitzke ‘54
Gordon H. Kopitzke, age 92 of the Town of Grant, Shawano County passed away at the same home he was born in on Sunday morning February 9, 2025. Gordon was born on August 1, 1932 as the son of the late Leonard and Minnie (Pockat) Kopitzke. He graduated from Marion High School in 1950 and earned…
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Elaine Knoploh Wedemeier ‘55
Elaine R. Wedemeier, 90, of Maynard and formerly of Westgate, Iowa, died peacefully Thursday morning, February 6, 2025, at Hillcrest Assisted Living in Sumner, Iowa. Elaine Rose Wedemeier, daughter of John and Lydia (Sell) Knoploh, was born February 17, 1934. She was baptized on March 4, 1934, and confirmed on March 30, 1947, at St.…
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Deanna Lange ‘69
Deanna Kay Lange, 77, of Bettendorf, IA, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 at her residence. Deanna was born October 1st, 1947, to Walter and Helen (Martens) Lange in Davenport, IA. She attended Davenport schools and graduated in 1965 from Davenport Central High School. She then went on to attend Wartburg College in…
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Verdell Hubbell Kelly ‘52
Verdell M. Kelly, 92, of Dows, with loved ones by her side, went home to be with her Savior, Jesus Christ, and reunited with her love, Dennis, on Monday, February 3, 2025. There will be no funeral service, as this was her desire. Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory of Iowa Falls is caring for Verdell…
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Lavoy Haage ‘68
Lavoy Gene Haage passed away from complications of Leukemia on February 2, 2025, at the age of 84. Lavoy was born March 17, 1940, to Gert and Helen Haage, in LeMars, Iowa. Lavoy was the oldest of 3 siblings and raised on a farm in LeMars, Iowa. They farmed the land and raised livestock. Lavoy…