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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All Class Years
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Nicole Felton Wellendorf ’12
Nicole Felton Wellendorf ’12, Granite Falls, Minn., is a behavioral health therapist at CCM Health, Montevideo.
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Cheryl Tomke ’71
Cheryl “Cheri” Tomke, 76, of Clarion, passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion. Cheryl “Cheri” Lee Tomke was born at Hampton, Iowa on June 17, 1949 and was the only child of Joseph R. and Irma (Evans) Tomke of Clarion. In her youth, Cheri was active in Camp Fire…
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Rev. James Baseler ’69
Pastor James ‘Jim’ Edward Baseler, 78, of Toms Brook, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Greenfield Reflections of Woodstock. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev George Edward and Ruth Mardorf Baseler, his sister, Dorthy ‘Dottie’ Carvalho and nephew Eric Carvalho. Jim was born on October 21, 1946, in Bloomington,…
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Ardell Troester Dietzler ’61
Ardell (Troester) Dietzler, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 21, 2025. She was born in Guttenberg, IA, on January 30, 1939, to the late Emil and Ruth Troester and grew up in Clayton County, IA. She loved to read, cook, quilt, sew, knit, and crochet. Ardell met her husband, William (Bill) at Wartburg College…
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Jeffrey Schroder ’77
Jeffrey “Jeff” Roy Schroder was born in West Union, Iowa on March 20, 1955, to Harry and Gertrude (Lauer) Schroder. He died on June 20, 2025, at the age of 70, after a courageous battle with cancer. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Gwen, two daughters Alison (Mitchell) Stewart and Emily (Lane)…
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Aleece McNeilus Beadle ’71
Aleece Bobette Beadle, 93, of rural Dumont, passed away Friday, June 20, 2025, at UnityPoint-Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. Aleece Bobette McNeilus was born January 17, 1932, the youngest of seven children, to William and Ethel (Walsh) McNeilus, ¼ mile west of Bristow. Aleece attended rural one room schools, Jefferson #2 near Coster and Jackson…
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Eric Skuster ’74
Eric Skuster, 73, formerly of Waverly, passed away in Urbandale, Iowa, on June 14, 2025. Born on April 4, 1952, in Osage, Eric was the eldest of five boys. His childhood was filled with simple joys like visiting the Jack & Jill grocery store to look at baseball cards on the back of cereal boxes.…
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Lila Antholz Nietfeld ’54
Lila Anna [Antholz] Nietfeld was born to Arthur & Helene [Ommen] Antholz, on August 23, 1932. Lila and her sister, Lucile, were raised north of McDonald, KS. She would gratefully recall family life on the farm and in the small surrounding communities—including active participation in the church where she was baptized, confirmed and nurtured in…
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Janice Cave Kay ’58
Janice Lucille Cave Kay of Wheaton, Illinois died June 10, 2025. Born March 13, 1936 in Waverly, Iowa, Janice was the daughter of Ethel Genevieve (Hunter) Cave and Earl Edmund Cave. Janice earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music, graduating in 1959 from Wartburg College, Waverly, IA where she studied both voice and piano. At…
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Timothy Pace ’77
Timothy Robert “Tim” Pace 1954 – 2025 Timothy “Tim” Robert Pace, 70, passed away June 9 in Independence, Missouri. A gathering to celebrate his life was held on June 24 at Crown Point Church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Tim was born in Waverly on December 21, 1954, to Maurice “Pat” and Bernita (Volk) Pace. He…
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Dr. Justin Buzick ’14
Dr. Justin Buzick ’14, Clive, is an oncologist/hematologist at Mission Cancer + Blood, Des Moines.
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Diane Miller Schwartz ’77
Diane Lynette (Miller) Schwartz passed away on June 5, 2025, at her home in Story City. She was born November 12, 1955, the third of six children, to Ivan and Ethelmarie (Martin) Miller in Greenfield, Iowa. She was baptized into the Christian Faith and confirmed her baptismal promises at the United Methodist Church in Fontanelle.…
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Charlene Tutton Hunter ’66
Charlene Hunter, born May 14, 1944, in Buffalo Center, Iowa, to Charles and Anna Tutton, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025, with her family by her side. Charlene is survived by her son Jason, his wife Marites, and her grandson Josh. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 40 years, W.…
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LaVonne Hendershot Leonard ’64
Lavonne Marie Leonard, age 82, of Greeley, Colorado passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2025. She was born on December 26, 1942, in Wadena Minnesota to Lyle and Lilian Hendershot. LaVonne grew up in Rochester, Minnesota where she attended John Marshall Senior High School, Rochester Junior College, and then went on to Wartburg College in…
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Kaley Koran ’24
Kaley Koran ’24, Channahon, Ill., is a music therapist at Riveredge Hospital, Forest Park.
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Rev. Richard Buchsteiner ’63
Rev. Richard W. Buchsteiner, age 84, of Bryan, passed away at his home on Friday evening, May 30, 2025. Pastor Buchsteiner retired from Trinity Lutheran Church in Bryan after serving the congregation for 32 years. He began his ministry at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Clinton, OH from 1967-1975 then served Trinity Lutheran from…
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Mark Thomas ’73
Mark Aldro Thomas (73), a beloved family man known for his joyful smile, witty nature, and celebrated career as an award winning social worker, claimed the promise of his baptism while in hospice care in his home in Broomfield Colorado on May 29, 2025. Mark was born on October 19, 1951 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin to…
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Kiley Broadway ’05
Kiley Broadway ’05, Oskaloosa, is a midwest sales representative – transportation and infrastructure at Musco Lighting.
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Samuel Bast ’23
Samuel Bast ’23, Waverly, earned a Master of Science in technology at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls.
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Carolyn Austin ’97
Carolyn Bernice Austin, lovingly known as “Cal,” peacefully received her wings on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the age of 51 at UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. A devoted daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Carolyn’s life was a beautiful reflection of love, faith, and service. Her radiant smile, generous spirit, and…
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Keith Meyer ’64
Keith E. Meyer, 84, formerly a longtime resident of Davenport, died Tuesday, February 17, 2026, with family at his side. Keith Edwin Meyer was born on August 6, 1941, in Woden, Iowa, a son of Edwin Henry and Eva Ruth (Valley) Meyer. He spent his early years in Woden before the family moved to Dows,…
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Gary Schwandt ’65
Gary D. Schwandt, 83, passed away peacefully at 9:20 p.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2026, surrounded by compassionate care at Avina Nursing Home and under the devoted support of hospice. Gary was born on April 14, 1942, at St. Agnes Hospital in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Everett and Virginia (Derge) Schwandt. He grew up…
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Delores Jaspersen Mindrup ’66
Delores Ann Mindrup, 80, of Mesa, Arizona, and formerly of Clear Lake, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2026. Delores was born on September 8, 1945, in Mason City, Iowa, the daughter of Lloyd C. and Alma Jennie (Nelson) Jaspersen. She was raised in the Sheffield area and graduated from Sheffield-Chapin High School in…
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Betty DePuew Miller ’60
Betty Jean Miller, age 88, of Clarksville, Iowa, was born the daughter of Edward Philip and Lucille Isabell (Hurd) DePuew on October 4, 1937, in Butler County, Iowa. Betty graduated from Clarksville High School in 1956 and attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, for three years in elementary education. On June 21, 1958, she married…
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Darlene Zummak Esmoil ’50
Darlene Eleanore Zummak Esmoil, 96 years old, of Waterloo, Iowa, and formerly of Independence, Iowa, died of natural causes, Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Friendship Village Retirement Community in Waterloo. Darlene was born on September 13, 1929, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Raymond Henry Zummak, Sr. and Bertha Hermine (Lenz) Zummak. She grew…
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Wilma Gast Johnson ’60
Wilma Lee Johnson, known to all as Willie, peacefully passed away on February 11, 2026, at the age of 87. Born on April 1, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Esther Gast where she was raised on a farm in Earlville, Illinois, as one of nine children. Willie’s journey began in…
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Carol Bergquist Hein ’58
At 12:20 AM Tuesday February 10th, 2026, we lost an angel. Carol Rae Hein of Coralville, aged 89, passed away with her family by her side. She was born in Chicago in 1936. She met her husband Herman while attending Wartburg College, married in 1958 and settled in the Iowa City area for the majority…
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William Striepe ’57
William R. Striepe, 91 of Waverly, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community. Bill was born on January 21, 1935, in Madison, Minnesota, the eldest son of William G. and Lorraine B. (Kienitz) Striepe. Bill was baptized in February of 1935 in Marrieta, Minnesota and confirmed in 1948…
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Kathie Schindel Hicok ’90
Hey all, you’re reading this because I, Kathie Schindel Hicok, born January 18, 1970, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, finally beat my battle with pancreatic cancer. It can no longer live in my body. Over the years, I spent my time as a DC-G band mom and school board member, independent travel agent, Mentor Iowa board…
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Todd Amani ’78
Todd Amani, cherished father, grandfather, uncle, brother, friend, colleague, and beloved soulmate of Mary Jo, passed from this life to the next on January 26th, his 71st birthday. His kindness, good humor, generosity, love of play, camaraderie, perseverance in all adversity, creativity, gentle nature, steadfastness, calm wisdom, and courage, especially in this final passage, touched…
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Marilyn Hersbergen Krauss ’64
Marilyn Kay Krauss, 83, of Webster City died January 24, 2026. She was born to George and Edith (Hersbergen) Krauss on January 25, 1942. She graduated form Corwith-Wesley High School. After graduating from Wartburg College, she taught fourth grade for forty years in Webster City. She is survived by her sister Ilene (Jim), her brother…
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Mary Gesell Schrandt ’77
Mary Schrandt, 71, of Charles City, Iowa, passed away January 23, 2026. Mary Jean Schrandt was born on April 12, 1954, to Raymond and Cleo (Rieken) Gesell. She grew up on a farm outside of Alta Vista, Iowa with her two sisters, Judy, and Sandy. Mary graduated from New Hampton High School in 1972. She…
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Frederick Grawe Jr. ’71
Frederick Grawe Jr., age 77, of Waverly, Iowa, died Thursday, January 22, 2026, at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Fred was born on November 4, 1948, in Waverly, Iowa, the son of Frederick Sr. and Ruth (Burhow) Grawe. He was raised in Waverly and graduated from Waverly Shell Rock High School in 1967.…
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Dr. Daniel Nelson ’68
June 12, 1946 – January 22, 2026 Dr. Daniel B. Nelson was born in Urbana ,IL on June 12, 1946 as the youngest of five children to Rev. Elmer A. Nelson and Mabel Mae (Jones) Nelson in Rantoul, IL. When in high school, he and his family moved from Rantoul to Park Ridge, IL where he graduated…
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Cleo Eliason ’65
Cleo Ann Eliason, age 90, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026 in Green Bay Wisconsin. She was born December 1, 1935, in Green Bay, to Edwin and Helen (Klug) Eliason. Cleo was proud to be a lifelong Lutheran. She graduated with High Honors from Green Bay East High School in 1954. She worked as…
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Burdette Walters ’73
Burdette passed away on Monday, January 19, 2026 at the Grundy County Memorial Hospital. Burdette Elgin Walters was born on Saturday December 2, 1950, at 10:40 P.M. at Allen Memorial Hospital, Black Hawk Co. Waterloo, Iowa, the only son of Mary (Maria Kaiser) and Eilert Walters Jr. He was baptized in the Lutheran faith December…
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Betty Waltmann Bergman ’61
Betty Lou Bergman, 86, of rural Hudson, passed away at home on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. She was born October 4, 1939, in Hudson, daughter of Leo and Alma (Engel) Waltmann. Betty graduated from Hudson High School in 1957, then earned her B.A. in Home Economics from Wartburg College followed by a Master’s Degree in…
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Wendy Dietrich Meyer ’85
Wendy Meyer, 64, of Oskaloosa, passed away on the evening of January 14, 2026, at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines. Wendy Lee Meyer, daughter of Wendell Elmer Erwin and Ethel Joy (Nielsen) Dietrich, was born on August 31, 1961, in Price, Utah. When Wendy was young, her family lived in various cities. She graduated from…
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Gary Zittergruen ’80
Gary Lynn Zittergruen, 67, of Waverly, formerly of Van Horne, Iowa, died Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minnesota. Gary was born July 29, 1958, in Prairie Du Chien, WI, the son of Harlan and Dorothy (Mueller) Zittergruen. He grew up in Garnavillo, graduating high school in 1976. He then…
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Christopher Schmidt ’66
Christopher Karl Schmidt, 82, of Waverly, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community. Chris was born on June 1, 1943, in Ohio, the son of Karl and Viola (Grambau) Schmidt. He grew up in Waverly and graduated from Wartburg College in 1966. Chris and Mary Hjermstad were married in…