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
-
Angela Neptun Hudelson ’03
Angela Neptun Hudelson ’03, Peoria, Ill., earned a degree in social work from the University of Illinois and is a mental health clinician at FamilyCore.
-
Elaina Meier ’01
Elaina Meier ’01, Madison, Wis., earned a doctoral degree in counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
-
Aaron Buzza ’01
Aaron Buzza ’01, Macon, Ga., was named one of the 200 Most Influential of Georgia’s Creative Industries by Georgia Entertainment’s Creative Economy Journal.
-
Dan Lahey ’99
Dan Lahey ’99, Johnston, is executive vice president and chief financial and investment officer at LCS, Des Moines.
-
Dr. Jamie Kling ’99
Dr. Jamie Kling ’99, Portage, Wis., received the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health’s Faculty Excellence Award. The award acknowledges initiative, enthusiasm, collaboration, and commitment.
-
Dr. Richard Stapleton ’97
Dr. Richard Stapleton ’97, North Liberty, is an academic coordinator – counselor education and supervision field experience at Walden University, Minneapolis. He is chair of the National Board of Certified Counselors, serving through June 2025.
-
Chad Gerbracht ’96
Chad Gerbracht ’96, Wellsburg, is an elementary school teacher in the Dike-New Hartford Schools.
-
Mark Albertsen ’96
Mark Albertsen ’96, Dysart, is an elementary principal in the East Marshall Community School District.
-
Tina Cox Vogelmann ’95
Tina Cox Vogelmann ’95, Lake Geneva, Wis., earned a master’s degree from Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg, Md., and is superintendent at Hartland Lakeside School District, Hartland.
-
James Cassmann ’95
James Cassmann ’95, Mabel, Minn., is an administrative assistant at Mayo Clinic-Rochester for the General Internal Medicine International Clinic and faculty development.
-
Alexis Oberdorfer ’94
Alexis Oberdorfer ’94, West Saint Paul, Minn., is senior vice president of services for Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota.
-
Van Beach ’94
Van Beach ’94, Cumming, is global head of Life Actuarial Solutions with Aon.
-
Jeff Martin ’92
Jeff Martin ’92, Kennesaw, Ga., a journalist for the Associated Press, produced Lethal Restraint. The project is a series of stories, photos, videos, and a PBS Frontline documentary examining the deaths of more than 1,000 people after encounters with police.
-
David Gerleman ’91
David Gerleman ’91, Alexandria, Va., a history instructor at George Mason University, Fairfax, is a 2024-25 Fulbright Scholar Award recipient and is teaching two courses at the University of Debrecen, Hungary.
-
Kathryn Buck Strong ’90
Kathryn Buck Strong ’90, Broomfield, Colo., retired from the city of Lakewood after 26 years as a teacher and education coordinator for Head Start. She now serves as an office administrator with Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder.
-
Kevin Kelling ’88
Kevin Kelling ’88, Grand Rapids, Mich., is a mortgage loan originator at Macatawa Bank.
-
Stu Fritz ’88
Stu Fritz ’88, Holland, Mich., retired after 31 years as head baseball coach and associate professor of kinesiology at Hope College. He is serving part time as an athletics and philanthropy liaison.
-
Jan Hazlewood Plane ’87
Jan Hazlewood Plane ’87, Brandon, Wis., earned the ACM-SIGCSE Broadening Participation in Computing Award. She was also awarded the May Bumby Severy Award for Teaching Excellence at Ripon College.
-
Jamie Clemente De Geer ’84
Jamie Clemente De Geer ’84, Valley Park, Mo., celebrated 25 years as director of music ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Manchester. She serves in various roles from worship and youth leadership to choir director.
-
Deborah Newton Mortensen ’83
Deborah Newton Mortensen ’83, Alta, retired in 2022 after 39 years with the Storm Lake Community School District. She authored the children’s book Not Me, published in 2024.
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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)…
-
Wayne Meyer ‘56
Wayne Otto Meyer was born on Feb. 3, 1935, in Smith County, Kansas, to Otto Meyer and Ida Zabel Meyer. He passed away on Feb. 26, 2024, in the loving presence of family members. He was 89. He grew up on a farm southeast of Gaylord with his brothers: Irvin, Waldean, Delmer, and Richard, and…
-
Robert Thran ‘59
Robert Richard Thran, age 94 of Nashua, IA, died Thursday, February 15, 2024, at Waverly Health Center in Waverly. Bob was born in Readlyn, Iowa, September 20, 1929, the son of Oscar and Loueen Diekmann Thran. He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Parochial School and graduated from Readlyn High School in 1947. He attended Iowa State Teachers…
-
Rev. William Thalacker ‘57
The Rev. Dr. William (“Bill”) Paul Thalacker, 89, passed away peacefully at home while surrounded by family in Waverly, Iowa, on January 31, 2024, due to the effects of congestive heart failure. Bill was born in Grinnell, Iowa, on November 14, 1934, to Rev. Arnold and Erna (Klein)Thalacker. He moved with his family to Lutheran…
-
Ronald Neessen ‘61
Ronald J. Neessen, 85, died on Tuesday, January 30, 2024, at his home. He was born on January 16, 1939, in Iowa, the son of Thomas and Wilma (Henning) Neessen. He graduated from DeWitt Community Schools in 1957, Wartburg College in 1961 and the Madison School of Banking in 1963. He married Sheran Matson in…
-
Madeleine Baudot Niemuth ‘56
Madeleine “Lynn” Niemuth, 89, of Urbandale, Iowa, passed away Monday, January 29, 2024. Madeleine “Lynn” Niemuth was born in Horton, KS on January 4, 1935, to Paul and Lucina (Hanoulle) Baudot. Her parents and sister Lucienne had emigrated from Belgium to the U.S. (Kansas) in 1928 to seek a better life after the ravages of…
-
Claire Merfeld ‘48
Claire “Skip” James Merfeld, 95, Cedar Falls, died Sunday, January 21, 2024 at the Western Home, Cedar Falls. Skip was born June 18, 1928 in Bristow, Iowa to the late Roy and Carrie (Stewart) Merfeld. He married Alice Folkert and the couple celebrated 64 loving years together before her death in 2012. Skip is survived…
-
Marianna Dirks Wolters ‘61
Marianna (Dirks) Wolters December 29, 1940 — January 5, 2024 Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Marianna Wolters, of Rantoul passed away peacefully in her loving home on Friday, January 5th. Marianna recently celebrated her 83rd birthday, and was blessed to live a life of faith, service, and love. She was born December 29th, 1940, in…
-
Oswald Goettler ‘53
Obituary of Oswald William Goettler, as written by Ozzie. Oswald William Goettler (Ozzie) was born November 29, 1927 at Andrew, Iowa to Henry and Magdalena Goettler, very poor, but very religious parents, for this he was thankful for. He became a Christian at a very young age and being poor, it taught him to get…
-
Wayne Imm ‘51
Wayne L. Imm, 94, of Toluca, passed away Tuesday, December 26, 2023, 5:10 am at his home in Toluca. Wayne was born February 20, 1929, in Streator, IL to Lester and Ella (Nenne) Imm. He married Dolores Ponsetto on November 28, 1953. Wayne attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. In 1951 he went into the…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…