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
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.,…
-
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,…
-
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…
-
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,…
-
James Blake ’08 and Christina Schipper ’07
James Blake ’08 and Christina Schipper ’07, Overland Park, Kansas, were married on Aug. 9, 2025.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Brent Harstad ‘66
Brent Harstad November 5, 1943 ~ December 25, 2023 Brent Gordon Harstad left a footprint on our community. He was a father and a husband, a judge and a businessman, and most of all, a good friend. He always gave of himself and worked to make the world a better place. He would meet you…
-
Clarence Coleman ’66
Clarence Edward Coleman February 16, 1940 – December 5, 2023 Clarence Edward Coleman was born in Mankato, Minnesota on February 16,1940 and raised in Fort Dodge, Iowa; the only child of Eleanor (Egli) and Walter De Nio. Clarence went by many names mostly because he never liked his first name. His nicknames were given to him at…
-
Sandra Oltrogge Wiegert ‘67
Sandra K. Wiegert, 78, resident of Loveland, ColoradoSandra (nee Oltrogge) Wiegert died suddenly Monday, November 27, 2023. Sandy was born at her family’s home near rural Sumner, Iowa. Sandy grew up in Waterloo Iowa, graduated from East High School and Wartburg College, Waverly. She taught at Pierce Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In Cedar Rapids, she…
-
Rev. Delbert Sailer ’66
Delbert “Dell” Sailer, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on November 12, 2023. Born into a large and loving family as one of twelve children to George and Martha Sailer, Dell grew up on a farm in Hazen, North Dakota. Preceded in death by six brothers; Walter, Lawrence, Gerhardt, Arnold, Martin, and…
-
Anne Leo Ellis ‘52
ELLIS–Anne Leo. (May 9, 1931 – October 30, 2023) was born in Osnabruck, Germany. She came to the U.S. at age eight, after her rescue from Nazi Germany through the Kindertransport program. She went to high school in Fredericksburg, TX, where her father was a pastor for a German-speaking Lutheran community. Anne earned degrees from…
-
Helen Hiittenmeyer Meade ‘50
Helen Marie Meade, 92, of Jefferson City, passed away Saturday, October 28, 2023, at Jefferson City Manor. She was born Tuesday, March 17, 1931, in Russellville, Missouri, a daughter of the late Otto and Minnie (Rosbach) Hiittenmeyer. She was united in marriage to Thomas Parker Meade, who preceded her in death. Helen worked as secretary…
-
Wenhsiu “Yeehan” Wu ‘03
Wenhsiu “Yeehan” Wu, of Carlisle, accomplished pianist and piano instructor, passed away at her residence on October 21, 2023 following a five-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 45. Yeehan was born in Taiwan on October 25, 1977. She began to learn the piano at the age of 4, and passed certificate level 10 at…
-
Marcella Petersen Erickson ‘54
In Loving Memory of Marcella I. Erickson December 21, 1931- September 25, 2023 It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Marcella Erickson. She was 91 years old. Marcella, better known as ‘Marcie’, ‘Momsy’, ‘Grandma Marcie’, or ‘Aunt Marce’, by those who loved her, was born…
-
Gina Anderson Smith ‘88
Gina M. Smith, 57, of Mound, passed away Sept 16, 2023, surrounded by husband Mark, children Inga and Gunnar. Gina lived with grace, seeing the best in people, and bringing the same optimism to her cancer treatments. She is survived by Mark, Inga, and Gunnar, mother Ted, sisters Wendy (Jim) and Stacey (Chad), nieces Taylor,…
-
Dr. Richard Erbes ‘74
We regret to announce the passing of Dr. Richard Dean Erbes of Estherville, Iowa on June 9, 2023 at the age of 71. Rick passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family. Rick was born to Dean and Ruth (Hanson) Erbes on December 29, 1951. After graduating from South Hamilton High School in 1970, he…
-
Leila Sailer Simpson ’59
Leila Margaret Simpson (nee Sailer), passed away on April 21, 2023. She was one of twelve children born in Krem, Mercer County, North Dakota to the late George and Martha (nee Pempeit) Sailer. She is the sister of Walter Sailer, Lawrence Sailer, Gerhardt Sailer, Velma Wylie, Veona Jorgensen, Vernon Sailer, Roland Sailer, Arnold Sailer, Martin…
-
Kaitlyn McColley ‘23
Kaitlyn Christine McColley, 22 of Albert Lea, MN passed away on March 18, 2023 at her home. Kaitlyn was born on June 5, 2000 in Faribault, MN to Randy and Carmen (Kelly) McColley. She attended school in Onamia, MN through second grade and graduated from Greene County High School in Jefferson, Iowa in 2018. Following…
-
Richard Brandt ‘58
Brandt, Richard D. died March 9, 2023 in Lincoln, NE. Dick was born in State Center, Iowa December 3, 1936. He attended State Center high school where he played basketball and graduated in 1954. He attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and was a member of the Wartburg Choir graduating in 1959. He began his 38 year life insurance…
-
Nadine Osincup Collins ‘48
Nadine Collins passed away on Saturday February 25, 2023 at the young age of 96. She was born on September 21, 1926 to Willard and Violet (Rohlf) Osincup in Waverly, IA. Loving wife of 63 years to the late Frederick D. Collins. Loving and devoted mother to David (Laura) Collins, Lauren (Dave) Bohanan, and Carolyn…
-
Kay DeGarmo ‘74
Kay Lynn DeGarmo, 71 of Coralville, Iowa passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023 at University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. She was born May 18, 1951, the loving daughter of the late Clifford Wesley DeGarmo who died in 1968 and Maxine Virginia (Steward) DeGarmo who died in 2004. Dear sister of the late…
-
Rev. Charles Farnham ’55
Charles Norman Farnham 1935 – 2022 Charles Norman Farnham was born on January 11, 1935, to Malinda Eichmeyer and Henry A. Farnham, in Hampton, Iowa and passed away on October 28, 2022, in Vancouver WA.Charles lived most of his life in Salem Oregon. He moved to Vancouver in 2018.After graduating from seminary, Chuck started his…
-
Marcea Moeller Clary ‘53
Marcea C. Clary, 90 of Sioux City, formerly of Sloan, passed away Friday, September 16, 2022. A visitation will be held from 5-7 pm on Thursday, September 22nd at Skien Lutheran Church in rural Sloan; with a Prayer Service at 7 pm. Funeral and Burial will held at a later date. Arrangements are with Waterbury Funeral…
-
Alta Sanders Morris ’54
Alta Mae Morris, 88, of Liberty, Missouri, passed away March 19, 2022. Alta was born May 21, 1933 in Bellevue, Iowa to Lawrence and Alma Sanders. She played basketball, was Homecoming Queen and Valedictorian of her 1950 Graduating class at Maquoketa High School. Alta also attended Wartburg College. For the year after college, she worked…
-
Norman Holzrichter ‘70
Norman Holzrichter February 26, 1946 — March 7, 2022 Norman Holzrichter, 76, of Grayslake, IL, died peacefully at his home surrounded with love by his family. He was born on February 26, 1946, in Chicago, IL, to Hugo and Elsie (Bonk) Holzrichter. He met Susan Brown at Wartburg College and on December 30, 1967, Norman…
-
James Mann ’71
James George Mann, resident of Homer Glen, IL, died suddenly and unexpectedly on February 21, 2022 at the age of 73. James is survived by his mother Arlene Mann, his wife Delores Onate, his sons Paul (Meriel), and David (Sherry), the mother of his children Elizabeth Mann, stepson, David Karaffa and four grandchildren, Evan, Sean,…