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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Karl Jaeschke ’18
Karl Jaeschke ’18, Boston, Mass., is a law student at Boston University School of Law.
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Madalynn McKelvey Baez ’18
Madalynn McKelvey Baez ’18, Rock Island, Ill., is an engineering and physics labs manager at North Park University.
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Alex Astiazaran ’18
Alex Astiazaran ’18, DeKalb, Ill., earned a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Northern Illinois University.
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Elliott Stern ’17
Elliott Stern ’17, Mendota Heights, Minn., earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Drake University, Des Moines, and is a technical training specialist at Infinite Campus, Blaine.
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Emily Almandinger Kuehn ’17
Allen and Emily Almandinger ’17 Kuehn, Des Moines, announce the birth of Noah on July 8, 2024.
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Zach Drape ’17
Zach ’17 and Courtney Drape, Waverly, announce the birth of Catherine on Jan. 25, 2024.
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Mackenzie Walsh Stern ’16
Mackenzie Walsh Stern ’16, Mendota Heights, Minn., is the music department coordinator at Macalester College, St. Paul.
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Mitchell ’16 and Micaela Forsyth ’16 Rahm
Mitchell ’16 and Micaela Forsyth ’16 Rahm, Cedar Falls, announce the birth of Maverik on Feb. 20, 2023.
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Brooke Moeller ’16
Brooke Moeller ’16, Durant, is a music therapist at St. Croix Hospice.
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Jacob Martin ’15
Jacob Martin ’15, Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., earned a doctoral degree in political science at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, and is a senior research associate at the Postsecondary National Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.
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Tiffany Louk ’15
Tiffany Louk ’15, Fresno, Calif., is the central valley regional business development specialist for the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, Sacramento.
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Emily Hogan ’14
Cruz Trujillo and Emily Hogan ’14, Sioux Falls, S.D., were married on Sept. 17, 2022.
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Jawanza Holmes ’14
Jawanza Holmes ’14, Waverly, is a running backs coach for Wartburg football.
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Abbigail Mueller Brantch ’14
Kevin and Abbigail Mueller ’14 Brantch, Indianapolis, announce the birth of Audette on Feb. 20, 2024.
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Jordan Young ’13
Jordan Young ’13, Cedar Rapids, is the dean of students and activities-athletics director in the Linn-Mar Community School District, Marion.
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Seth Smith ’13
Seth Smith ’13, Cedar Falls, is a technical project manager at RTX.
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Drew Crawford ’13
Drew Crawford ’13, Ames, is a digital marketing director at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
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Kathryn Wendt ’12
Kathryn Wendt ’12, Minneapolis, was named Of Counsel at Ballard Spahr.
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Jordan Sarhoff ’12
Jordan Sarhoff ’12, Hillsboro, founded Prairie Rose Wealth Management in 2024 and joined LPL Financial.
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Emily Kuennen ’12
Emily Kuennen ’12, Aurora, Colo., is first assistant manager at QuikTrip.
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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…
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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.…