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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Judy Harms Spinler ‘71
Judy Spinler, 75, passed away peacefully after a short battle with pancreatic cancer on November 19, 2024, at the Oldorf Hospice House, Hiawatha, Iowa. Judy was born July 7, 1949, daughter to Paul and Leola (Ingersoll) Harms in Waterloo, Iowa. She graduated from Wartburg College and the University of Northern Iowa. She was united in…
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Vivian Rudolf Rindelaub ‘57
Vivian (Rudolf) Rindelaub, age 89 5/6 years, of Alexandria, formerly of Waseca, Marcell, and Grand Rapids, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024, at her home. A visitation will be held from 2 p.m. until the time of the 3 p.m. service on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, at First Lutheran Church, with Rev. Megan Preston…
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Sheridan Skeen ‘69
Sheridan Ray Skeen, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2024, at the age of 77. Born on March 9, 1947, he received the nickname “Peanut” by his family since he arrived prematurely and was such a small baby. Sheridan grew up on a farm near Kankakee, Illinois, where he was raised…
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Dr. Duane Koenig ‘53
Dr. Duane G Koenig, 90 years of age, of Plymouth, passed away Monday, November 4, 2024. He was born on November 5, 1933, in Beatrice to Albert and Elsa (Pfingsten) Koenig. Duane attended Hoag country school through the 8th grade, then transferred to Beatrice, graduating in 1951. He was confirmed in faith at St John’s…
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Margaret Baker ’76
Margaret Lynn Baker of Olathe Kansas unexpectedly passed away November 04, 2024. Margaret (Maggie) was born on November 20, 1953, in New Hampton, Iowa. She was the daughter of Mark Homer Baker and Madelynn Anne Baker (nee Elscott). Maggie graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1973, then went on to Wartburg College, earning a…
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Peter Weller ‘61
Peter John Weller, age 84, of Washington, Iowa, passed away Friday, November 1, 2024, at the Halcyon House in Washington. Peter was born January 13, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Carl Wilhelm and Kathryn (Bieber) Weller. He attended school at the Lane Tech Preparatory High School in Chicago, Illinois, and received his Business…
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Rev. Harold Heinzig ‘56
Rev. Harold Frederick Herman Heinzig October 3, 1934 — November 1, 2024 Rev. Harold Frederick Herman Heinzig, age 90, died on Friday afternoon, November 1, 2024, at Centra Care – St. Cloud Hospital, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Trinity Lutheran…
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Joyce Wonsmos Kasper ‘63
Joyce Arline Kasper, 84, of Clear Lake, formerly of Forest City and Thornton, a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at Apple Valley Assisted Living in Clear Lake. Born on August 5, 1940, to Marius (Shorty) and Helen (Hartwig) Wonsmos in Thornton, Iowa, Joyce cherished her early years,…
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James Carver ‘64
James “Jim” Douglas Carver Obituary James “Jim” D. Carver, 82, of Waverly died on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at his residence in Waverly. James Douglas Carver was born on April 15, 1942, the son of Francis and Dorothy (Wilson) Carver in Spencer, Iowa. He earned his Eagle Scout and was active in sports…
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Rev. John Sieverts ‘74
Rev. John C. Sieverts age 72 of Minocqua, WI, formerly of Waterloo, IA, died Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at the Country Terrace Home in Minocqua. John C. Sieverts, born on December 10, 1951, to John J. and Anna Mae (Johnson) Sieverts. John was baptized and confirmed at Crane Creek, where he began a lifelong journey of devotion…
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Rev. Arnold Wuertz ‘44
Rev. Arnold A. Wuertz, age 102, of Overland Park, Kansas passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Arnold grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota with parents Adolph and Laura (Ziemer) Wuertz. He was the second of their two children and was preceded in death by his parents and brother Edgar, who died at…
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Kay Marshek Schroeder ’64
Kay Carol Schroeder, age 82, of Hendersonville, passed away on October 17, 2024, at the Elizabeth House. Born on March 9, 1942, in Chippewa County, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Myron Marshek and Faith Stubenvoll Marshek. Kay was a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. She was known to have been born…
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Ralph Lohse ‘69
Mr. Ralph Lohse passed away at his home in the Town of Trenton on Tuesday evening, October 15, 2024, with his loving wife by his side. He was 77 years old. Ralph was born to Roy and Helen (nee Anderson) Lohse in Franklin Grove, Illinois on July 7, 1947. Ralph, his three brothers, and their…
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Sylvester Van Hove ‘59
Sylvester Henry Van Hove May 5, 1932 – October 12, 2024 Sylvester Henry Van Hove was born May 5, 1932, in rural Titonka, Iowa, the son of Ted and Bina (Tjaden) Van Hove. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Titonka High School in 1950. He graduated from St. Louis College of…
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Gary Nielsen ‘69
Gary R. Nielsen, 77, of Schertz, Texas passed away peacefully on Friday, October 11, 2024. Gary was born in Racine, Wisconsin on March 5, 1947, to Russell H. Nielsen and Joyce (Bax) Nielsen. Gary had a zest for life, and although faced with many serious health issues, his faith, attitude, and love for his family…
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Jeffrey Wad ‘74
Jeffrey James Wad age 74 of Nashua died Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at his home. Jeffrey James Wad, born on May 23, 1950, in New Hampton, Iowa, he was the son of Earl and Wilma (Ransom) Wad and grew up in Ionia, where he developed a passion for art and education. A proud graduate of…
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Leon Webrand ‘62
Leon Anton Webrand passed away peacefully at the age of 91 in Bermuda Dunes, California, on October 2, 2024. Born on July 11, 1933, Leon led a fulfilling life marked by devotion to his family and a distinguished career. Leon was a loving husband to his late wife, Sandra Webrand, who preceded him in death…
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Valerie Gramlich-Broderick ‘06
Valerie Christine Gramlich-Broderick, 41, of Urbandale, IA, passed away on Tuesday, October 1st, 2024, surrounded by her family at the Kavanaugh House in Des Moines, IA. Valerie Christine Gramlich was born August 15th, 1983, in Waukon, IA, the daughter of Gerald (Jerry) and Mary (Berns) Gramlich. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic…
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Rev. Carl Jech ’63
Carl L. Jech10/16/1941 – 09/28/2024Carl died, serenely and with dignity, on September 28, 2024, at Coming Home Hospice in San Francisco, surrounded by family and loved ones. He was born October 16, 1941 in Brainerd, MN, to Rev. Herbert and Helen Jech. He grew up in St. Paul, MN. His parents; and sister, Margaret, died…
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Julie Rhoades DuVal ’92
Julie Kay (Rhoades) DuVal, lifelong educator, beloved friend and devoted follower of Christ passed away at her home in Logan, Iowa on September 24, 2024, at the age of 54. Born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 19, 1970, to D.G. and Peggy Rhoades, Julie attended Crescent Elementary, Kirn Junior High School, and Abraham Lincoln High…