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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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.,…
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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,…
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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…
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Ronald Fischer ‘68
Ronald (Ron) Alwin Fischer was born on August 7, 1946 to Edith and Marvin Fischer in Mendota, Illinois. He died in his Tonganoxie, Kansas home on April 15, 2024. After graduating from Mendota High School in 1964, Ron earned his college degree at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. He then began pursuing an advanced degree…
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Zoey Clark Bronsink ‘20
Zoey Marie Clark Bronsink December 24, 1997 — April 15, 2024 Zoey was born December 24, 1997 in Des Moines Iowa. She was the oldest daughter of Brad and Sue Clark. Zoey graduated from Waukee High School where she was active in sports and marching band. Later, she attended Wartburg College. Zoey returned home where…
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Dolores Pipho Boehm ‘46
Dolores M. Boehm, 97, of rural Wadena, Iowa, died Saturday evening, April 13, 2024, at Maple Crest Manor in Fayette, Iowa. Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Friday, April 19, 2024, at St. John Lutheran Church in Arlington, Iowa, with Rev. Margaret Yackel-Juleen officiating. Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral…
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Erma Baumgartner Clausing ’49
Erma Hilda Clausing, 95, of Cedar Falls, Iowa and formerly from Waverly, passed away early Thursday morning, April 11, 2024, at Nation Cottage in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Erma Hilda (Baumgartner) Clausing was born on September 21, 1928, to Emil and Elizabeth (Beyerlein) Baumgartner in Clayton County, Iowa. She was baptized at St. Sebald Lutheran Church,…
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Arnold Fritz ‘53
Arnold William “Bill” Fritz, age 92 of Carlyle, passed away at his home on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Mr. Fritz was born in Wesley, Iowa on January 1, 1932, a son of the late William A. and Wilma (nee Gerdes) Fritz. Bill married Norma Jeane Ahrens in Grinnell, Iowa on June 21, 1953, and she…
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Fred Holzrichter ‘66
Fred W. Holzrichter – passed away peacefully, at home with family present, on Thursday April 11, 2024. He was 80 years old. Fred was born in Chicago to Hugo and Elsa Holzrichter. He was raised in Chicago and graduated from Harper H.S. He began his studies at Wartburg College, Waverly, IA., but during a “financial…
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Mary “Sue” Hitchins Kern ’70
Mary “Sue” Kern, 93, of Waverly, Iowa died on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at the Waverly Health Center in Waverly. Mary Adorine Kern was born on February 8, 1931, the daughter of James and Margaret (Reburn) Hitchins in South Bend, Indiana. She attended primary school in the New Albin area, then Iowa Teacher College (UNI)…
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Linda Sturtz ‘75
Linda K. Sturtz, 71, of St. Louis Park, MN, formerly of Vinton, passed away unexpectedly, Tuesday, March 26, 2024, at Mercy Hospital, St. Louis Park, MN. Linda was born November 29, 1952, in Independence, the daughter of Malin and Arlene (Kaiser) Sturtz. She attended school in Vinton, graduating from Washington High School in 1971.…
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Paul “Bob” Moeller ’61
Paul Robert “Bob” Moeller died on March 25, 2024 at home at the age of 84. Bob was born in Alpena, Michigan, the son of the late Lutheran Bishop Paul and Iris (Troyer) Moeller. Bob graduated in 1957 from Oakwood High School in Dayton, Ohio. Bob’s family was interested in nature – his mother was a Girl…
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Judith Kreft Bunz ’61
Judith (Judy) Ann Kreft Bunz passed away at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa, on March 24, 2024. She was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on March 15, 1939, and lived in Lytton, Iowa until her marriage to Claus Heinrich Bunz in 1961. Following high school, Judy studied at Wartburg College where she received…
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Dolores Ellermeier Tjarks ’51
Sioux Falls, SD – Dolores Tjarks, age 91, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Sioux Falls, SD. Dolores taught her children to love God above all else, see the best in people and dish out praise in heaping spoonfuls. She was endlessly kind. Dolores lived a life of service to…
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Patricia Donahoo Tuecke ‘59
Patricia M. Tuecke, 84, of DeKalb, Illinois, passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at Oak Crest DeKalb Area Retirement Center. She was born November 12, 1939, in Omaha, Nebraska, the daughter of Lloyd and Ester (Schomer) Donahoo. She grew up on her parents farm near Millard, Nebraska, and attended Millard High School. After graduating from…
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Dr. Darrell Schlange ’61
Darrell Gene Schlange O.D, D.O.S, age 84, of Palos Heights, Illinois, passed away on March 10, 2024. He was born on October 18, 1939, in Auburn, Nebraska. Darrell was a dedicated Associate Professor of Optometry at Illinois College of Optometry and also had a successful private practice in the Palos Heights area. He was known…
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Lois Wiese McCulloch ’56
Lois M. McCulloch died March 10, 2024 at Ascension St. Joseph Center in Freeport. Born Feb 15, 1935, in Spring Valley, IL to Herman J and Mildred (Hamer) Wiese, she married Donald “Mac” McCulloch of Freeport in Sept 1957. She is survived by her daughters, Rose Anne Flores of Phoenix, AZ, and Dawn (David) Bronkema of…
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Irene Streng Snyder ‘52
Irene E. Snyder, 93, passed away on Sunday March 10, 2024 in Oshkosh. Irene was born November 11, 1930, in Cook, Nebraska, the daughter of the Reverend John and Nora (Bischoff) Streng. The Streng family moved to Beatrice, NE when her father was called to serve at St. John Lutheran Church in 1937.During World War…
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Charles Birnstiel
Esteemed Professor, bridge engineer, and author Dr. Charles Birnstiel passed away on March 11th at the age of 94. Charles was born on December 6, 1929, in Manhattan, NY, to German immigrants Karl and Margarete Birnstiel. After attending public grade schools in East Harlem, Charles studied at Brooklyn Technical High School, and then at New York…
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Richard James ‘61
With heavy hearts, we announce Richard H. James, age 87 of Lawrenceville, GA passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2024. He was a loving husband, father, lawyer and a veteran of the U. S. Navy. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jana Sue James. He leaves behind a legacy of love and…
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Rev. Harold McMillin ‘69
Harold Robert McMillin, Jr., 78, of Guttenberg, Iowa, son of Harold Sr. and Marie (Carlson) McMillin was born March 28, 1945, in McGregor. Harold passed away unexpectedly on March 2, 2024. He faced many health challenges in his life and fought each one with resilience and courage. Harold grew up on a dairy farm and…
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Rev. Marvin Ritterling ‘52
In loving memory of Rev. Marvin Verland Ritterling, 92, who transitioned into the loving arms of Jesus on February 29th, 2024.Marvin is survived by his two sons, David K. Ritterling (Caroline) of Pueblo and Douglas K. Ritterling (Pamela) of Anderson, SC. Nine grandchildren: Rachel Blickenstaff (Brandon), of Pueblo, Allison Hendricks (Steven) of Farmington, NM., Andrew Ritterling (Christine)…
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Michael Broghammer ‘78
Michael Donald Broghammer, age 67, of Cedar Rapids, IA, formerly of Cresco, IA, died on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, IA. Mike was born on June 21, 1956 to Leonard and Margaret (Miskimins) Broghammer in Cresco, IA. He attended school in Cresco and graduated from Crestwood High School in…