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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Sonci Kingery ’07
Sonci Kingery ’07, Clive, is a legal program director at Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
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Jonathon Gregg ’08
Jonathon Gregg ’08, Louisville, Ky., is lead multimedia journalist at Spectrum News Kentucky and was awarded third place as 2026 Solo Video Journalist of the Year for the National Press Photographers Association.
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Gloria Seibert Gibbons ’58
Gloria Gibbons of Richland, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 17, 2026 with her loving family and caregiver at her side. Gloria was born July 11, 1936 in Des Moines, Iowa to Hayden and Mamie Seibert, the second of three children. She was active in 4-H, singing in chorale groups, played French Horn, piano and the organ. She was from Des Moines, Iowa and has fond memories of her early years growing up on a farm. Gloria graduated from Johnston High School in 1954. After high school, she completed two years at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa then received a…
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Bruce Garberding ’71
Bruce Eugene Garberding, January 26, 1949 – April 15, 2026. Bruce was an Iowa farm boy through and through. He grew up with his loving parents, Ray and Lucille Garberding, on their farm near Albert City, Iowa. Bruce’s childhood was idyllic, helping on the farm and loving all the farm animals and pets. Throughout his schooling at Albert City, Bruce participated in almost every activity they offered. He then completed a degree in Social Work at Wartburg College. After that Bruce then served in the U.S. Navy before going on to complete his master’s degree in social work at the University of…
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Dr. Herman Hein ’59
Herman August Hein passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026. Herman was born on July 30, 1936 at Anamosa Hospital in Iowa to Rev. Herman and Marie Reyelts Hein. After his family settled in Waverly, Iowa he graduated summa cum laude from Waverly High School in 1955. He went on to attend Wartburg College in Waverly where he met the love of his life Carol Bergquist. They married in August of 1958 and would have celebrated 68 years of marriage this year. In 1959 he graduated magna cum laude and went on to attend medical school at the University of…
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Rev. Stanley Lillich ’64
Stanley R. Lillich (Stan) died of cancer on his 84th birthday on Sunday, April 12th after a six-day stay at Oakwood Village Health & Rehabilitation Center at Prairie Ridge where he was well cared for by family and staff. His death claimed a temporary victory. Our Lord’s promise is “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” Thanks be to God that His victory over death and the grave will also be ours, through faith in Him. Stanley R. Lillich was born on April 12, 1942, in Benkelman, NE to the Reverend Adolph and Clara Lillich. He was baptized by…
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Dawn Maas Jaeger ’83
Dawn Jaeger, 64, of Grinnell, died on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center. Dawn Marie Maas was born to William and Joyce (Tretow) Maas on June 29, 1961, in Sheboygan, Wis. She was raised in Random Lake, Wis., and graduated with the Random Lake High School Class of 1979. Dawn continued her education at Wartburg College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in social work in 1983, and completed her Master’s Degree in social work from the University of Iowa. On August 27, 1983, Dawn was united in marriage with Brent Jaeger at Saint Paul’s…
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David Kalkwarf ’70
David Orville Kalkwarf, 77 of McGregor, Iowa passed away from Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Meadow View Memory Care in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. David was born October 7, 1948 to Orville and Hazel (Voss) Kalkwarf in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Pontiac High School with the class of 1966 and attended Wartburg College for two years before joining the United States Army. When David returned from serving in the Army he continued his education at the Illinois State College and graduated with a CPA certificate in accounting. On November 28, 1969, David was united in marriage with Barbara Augsburger at…
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Marian Boicourt Glidewell ’59
Loving wife and mother, Marian Janice Glidewell of Emporia, KS died at Newman Regional Health on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the age of 88. Marian was born June 20,1937 in Minneapolis, MN to Melvin Alvin and Adeline Mae (Nelson) Boicourt. She grew up in the Homecroft neighborhood of St. Paul, MN surrounded by her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. In addition to her family, Marian found guidance at Homecroft Elementary and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. During WWII, the tight-knit neighborhood supported each other while the men were serving their country. Marian had many stories to share of her childhood…
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Arlington Fink ’56
Arlington M Fink passed on April 6, 2026, at the age of 93; born December 15, 1932, in Delmont, Arlington resided in Ames, Iowa. A.M. Fink was born in his German-Russian grandparents’ home in Delmont, South Dakota. The youngest in a deeply religious family, he got to sit on his father’s lap as his father read from the German Bible every morning. In this intimate time he learned to read German script before dealing with English in a one-room school at age six. Being unsuited to farming because of hay fever, A.M. attended Armour High School and Wartburg College, a…
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Michelle Stearns Parsons ’99
Michelle Lynn Stearns Parsons, age 48, of Mineral Point, Wisconsin, was born the daughter of Dale and Janet (Honsbruch) Stearns, on July 26, 1977, in Waterloo, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Parkersburg, Iowa. Michelle graduated from Aplington Parkersburg High School in 1995 and continued her education, graduating from Wartburg College with her bachelor’s degree and had been working towards her master’s degree. Michelle had a passion for helping people which led her to several communities, working in social work and substance abuse counseling over the years before making her current home in Mineral Point,…
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Rev. Robert Wessels ’57
Robert “Bob” Gerd Wessels was born February 12,1934 to Adolph and Johanna Wessels. Bob was one of four children and grew up on a farm 7 miles north of Independence Iowa. Bob attended Buchannan County Rural School #5 and Independence High School. After graduation in 1951, Bob farmed for two years with his “Opa”, dad, older brother Harry and younger brother Lawrence “Lornie”. During this time Bob met and dated Margie Harris. Marge and Bob both did volunteer work for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Independence. Bob received God’s call while at camp and soon after was enrolled at Wartburg College…
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Roger Pagel ’63
Roger Allan Pagel, October 22, 1941 – April 3, 2026. Roger graduated from Tama High School, and also Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa where he played football. He met Marty in 1962 at Wartburg and they were married on August 21, 1965. Roger was a PE teacher at Mission Middle School from 1970-1999. He was a football coach at Bellevue High School, Mission Middle School, and Bellevue East High School. Preceded in death by parents Harold and Darlene Pagel brother in-law Curtis Olthoff. Survived by wife of 60 years, Mariedith “Marty” (Greenlee) Pagel; children Scott Pagel (Angie), Shawn Pagel (Michele),…
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Robert Beener ’63
Robert “Bob” Beener, 97, of Cedar Falls, IA, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2026, at Western Homes Creekside Living in Grundy Center. Bob was born June 14, 1928, in Waterloo, IA, the third son of Charles and Lydia (Speicher) Beener. His family included-two older brothers, Irvin and LaVerne, two younger sisters, Mary, and Janice “Jenny,” and one younger brother, Richard “Dick” Beener. Growing up in the Great Depression years, Bob’s work history began at an early age with a paper route. In High School, he began working second shift at the Rath Packing Company and continued to work there while…
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Jenna Manders ’15
Jordon Dyer and Jenna Manders ’15, Boscobel, Wis., were married Dec. 13, 2025.
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Elizabeth von Fischer Hier ’53
Elizabeth Mae von Fischer Hier, January 28, 1931 – March 23, 2026. Elizabeth (Betty) von Fischer Hier, 95, of Clear Lake, IA, passed away peacefully at the IOOF Home in Mason City, IA after a courageous three-month battle with bone cancer. Betty was born on January 28, 1931, in Springfield, Minnesota, the daughter of Philip Emil and Vera Santine Wilhelmina (Buth) von Fischer. She attended school in Springfield and began playing the flute in the 6th grade with three other classmates. In 7th grade, and each year following, they were the top small group at regional, and state contests. She graduated from…
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Rev. Robert Edwards ’72
Rev. Robert Lynn Edwards passed away on March 22, 2026 in Ames, IA after a short battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Bob was born on November 14, 1949, in Emmetsburg, IA to Leslie and Marian Edwards. Bob attended school in Emmetsburg until his family moved to Forest City, IA. He graduated from Forest City High School in 1968. While still in high school, he started attending church on his own and after a particularly moving Lenten service, decided he wanted to become a pastor. Bob attended Waldorf College for two years, where he met the love of his life and…
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Larry Stille ’64
Larry Lee Stille, aged 83, was called home by his Savior on March 22nd, 2026, surrounded by his family, at Avera Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Larry was born August 7th, 1942 in Charles City, IA. He was a proud graduate of Wartburg College, graduating with a BA in biology and going on to attend Schoitz Memorial Hospital’s medical technologist training program. He then began thirty-five years of service at St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, IA, rising to become Director of Technical Lab Services, as well as Director of Pharmacy and Radiologic Services. At St. Luke’s, he met the…
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Beverly Riis Sperry ’64
Bev, age 83, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026 at Our Lady of Peace Hospice Home (St. Paul, MN), with her daughter and husband at her side. Bev leaves a legacy of humor, honesty and caring for others; her long-time commitment to education, her family, and her church. She will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. Born on February 19, 1943 at Lutheran Hospital (Hampton, Iowa) to Alvin and Ardyce Riis of Coulter, Iowa. Becoming a big sister when Susan was born six years later. The family later made their home on a dairy farm…
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Joan Havener Anderson ’71
Joan L. Anderson, 76, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at home. A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church on Northland, 5200 Northland Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids. The family will greet friends an hour prior to services at the church. The service will be livestreamed on the church’s social media pages. Joan was born on May 3, 1949, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Chilcote) Havener. She was a 1967 graduate of Knoxville High School and earned her teaching degree from Central…
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Carol Wessels Bye Koeneman ‘66
Carol Ann Wessels Bye Koeneman, age 80, passed away peacefully August 27, 2024 in Tucson, Arizona. She was born January 7, 1944 in Independence, Iowa to Verna (Peck) and William Wessels. She was raised in Independence surrounded by her brothers and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Growing up, Carol enjoyed playing the piano, singing, swimming, lifeguarding, and fishing with her dad. Carol graduated from Wartburg College in 1966 with a degree in education. Music was a large part of her college experience, singing in the choir and playing in the band. She proudly earned the title of Miss Waverly and…
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Rev. Jan Horne ‘63
Pastor Jan Horne, 88, of Robins, IA passed on into the presence of our Savior Monday August 26, 2024. One of three children, Jan was born in Oslo, Norway on February 5th 1936, to parents, Arthur and Solveig Horne. As a child, Jan survived the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War 2. Because of the severity of the conditions at the time, Jan, along with his two older brothers, was sent to live in an orphanage. He was soon adopted by his paternal aunt and uncle, Karl and Herborg Steen, and grew up in their home in Kristiansand. He…
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Alberta Brandt Pieper ‘56
Alberta “Boots” Pieper, age 89, of Clara City, Minnesota passed away Monday, August 26, 2024 at Clara City Care Center. Alberta Leona Pieper was born February 1, 1935 to Albert and Minnie (Hesse) Brandt in Denver, Iowa. She grew up in Denver and was baptized on March 3, 1935 and confirmed on April 13, 1949 both at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Denver. Alberta attended school in Denver and graduated from high school in 1952. She furthered her education at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa graduating in 1956 with a Bachelor’s of Music, receiving her Church Music Degree. Alberta started…
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Leona Mortensen Reyelts ‘54
Leona Lena Reyelts March 1, 1932 – August 26, 2024 On the evening of August 26th, God sent a strong wind to raise up the soul of one of His true and faithful servants. Rainbows and lightening decorated the skies as Leona Reyelts, aged 92, died peacefully of natural causes to join her husband, Rev. Lawrence Reyelts and granddaughter Thalea in Heaven’s embrace. Born in 1932 on a farm near LeMars, IA, Leona married Larry at 19 and together served Lutheran churches, first in California, then throughout western Canada. They returned to the US in 1972 and settled in SE…
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Richard Larson ‘57
Richard Jeffrey Larson, age 89, died on August 25, 2024, from a fall at his home in Prestbury. He was born February 27, 1935, to Jeffrey and Malene Larson in Earlville, Illinois. He was raised in the Earlville area, attended a one room grade school for seven years, and graduated from the Earlville grade and high schools. He attended Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1957. He then earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1960. During his last year in law school, Dick joined the Illinois Air…
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Kristine Karls Lambert ‘71
Kristine Wendy Lambert December 5, 1948 – August 24, 2024 Kristine Wendy (Karls) Lambert, age 75, of Schaumburg. Beloved wife of the late Julian Raymond Lambert. Beloved daughter of the late Alice Lillian (Erickson) Karls and Robert Matthew Karls. Loving mother of John P. Lambert and Julie A. (Kirk) Dahlen. Dearest grandmother of Emma Dahlen. Dear sister of Karen (Edward) Bonkowski. Beloved aunt of a niece and several nephews. All obituary information has been taken from the funeral home, newspaper or other online resource.
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Richard Tillou ‘51
Richard D. Tillou, 95, formerly of Mason City passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024, at Cascade Creek Memory Care, Rochester, MN. Richard Tillou was born on August 30, 1928, in Richland Center, WI to parents John and Audrey (Thompson) Tillou. Richard graduated from Richland Center High School. He received his Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Wartburg College while being a four-year letterman on the baseball team. He then obtained his master’s degree from Colorado State University. On August 8, 1951, Richard was united in marriage to Carol Lehmann in Rock Rapids, IA. In July of 1952, Richard…
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Paul Beckman ‘54
Paul Lester Beckman, 92, of West Burlington, died Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at his home. Born June 14, 1932, in Prairie Grove, he was the son of Lester and Esther (Flachman) Beckman. He attended Flint River School and was a 1950 graduate of Danville High School and a graduate of Wartburg College. He served as a Corporal in the Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Lois Taeger on June 10, 1956, at Prairie Grove Church, she passed away March 13, 2022. Paul worked as an electrician for BNSF Railroad and was a life long farmer. He served for on…
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Kathryn Fritschel Gerard ‘58
Kathryn Annette Fritschel Gerard, August 3, 1936 – August 15, 2024. Kathryn (Kay) Annette Gerard, née Fritschel, 88 of Sugar Land, Texas, died peacefully at home on Thursday, August 15th surrounded by her family. Kay was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, the second child of Reverend Walter and Nina Fritschel, and grew up in Charles City, Iowa. After graduating from high school as co-salutatorian, she attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa earning a bachelor’s degree in history in 1958. In 1964, she earned a master’s degree in European history from the University of Colorado Boulder. Kay was part of the…
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Loretta Schmitt Blain ’56
Loretta “Lorrie” Irene Blain, age 88, passed away in her home in Costa Mesa, CA on August 14, 2024. Born on June 29, 1936, in Bismarck, North Dakota to Bertha and Jacob Schmitt, Lorrie lived a life full of love, devotion, and service. Growing up on a farm in Wishek, ND, Lorrie moved to Waverly, Iowa to attend Wartburg College. After receiving her AA in Parish Work in 1956, she lived for a time in Omaha, NE, but later moved to Northern California where she met her future husband, James “Jim” Blain. California joyfully became her permanent home. In 1959, Lorrie and…
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Roger Swanson ’52
Roger D. Swanson was born February 6, 1931, in Manchester, Iowa, to Anton V. and Elsie (Reck) Swanson. He died on August 13, 2024, at the Great River Care Center in McGregor, Iowa. Roger attended grade school at Rural Hazel Green Township in Delaware County, Iowa and graduated from Buck Creek Consolidated High School in Hopkinton, Iowa. He graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa with degrees in math and English, received his master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa, and his Elementary Counseling Endorsement from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. He served in the U.S Army Signal Corp…
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Dr. Emilie Noel Zehr ‘73
Emilie S. Zehr, 73 a resident of Bondurant, Iowa, died peacefully on Thursday August 1, 2024 at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, MN. She was surrounded by her loving family at the time of her passing, following a courageous battle with cancer. Emilie Susanna Noel was born January 22, 1951 in Clinton, IA; the eldest of LaVern Martin and Elsbeth Emma (Schmahl) Noel. She graduated from North Scott High School in Eldridge, Iowa and Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. She went on to earn a Masters of Arts degree in Microbiology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois and the Ph.D.…
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Harold Heeren ‘64
Harold Henry Heeren, 82, of Caledonia, died peacefully Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in his home surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with cancer. He was born June 27, 1942, in Milford, IL. He was the son of Elmer and Marie (Kietzman) Heeren. Harold attended Wartburg College and graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign with a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1964. He married Judith Allen on December 20, 1963. Harold worked as an engineer for Barber-Colman for over 30 years before starting a new company, Instrucon, with his partner, George Prentice. Harold was a charter…
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Harold Rindels ‘71
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Harold Rindels on July 31st, 2024 in Solon, Ohio. Harold (Hal/Butch) was born February 20th, 1949 in Grundy Center, Iowa. Hal taught Math upon graduation from Wartburg College prior to a long and successful career in the insurance industry. He enjoyed the music of the Grateful Dead, the Iowa Hawkeyes, and loved golfing and playing billiards with Patty and friends. Most of all, Hal will be remembered as a dedicated husband, proud and loving father and grandfather. He is survived by his sister Caroline; his daughter Allison L. (Jay…
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Racheal Gangestad Davis ‘59
L. Racheal Gangestad Amelung Davis, 87, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, July 27, 2024, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa. Racheal was born August 24, 1936, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, the daughter of Leon and Ruth (Dawes) Gangestad. She was baptized, confirmed, and married in St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Bode, Iowa, and graduated from Bode Consolidated Schools with honors. Racheal then graduated with an English degree from Wartburg College in 1959 and spent 14 years teaching Junior High Language Arts in Mason City and Iowa City, Iowa. She then earned her…
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Gary “Gari” Green ‘71
Gary “Gari” Green of Kenosha, Wisconsin, passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the age of 74. Gari was born on October 1, 1949, in Pontiac, IL, the eldest child of Harry and Louise (Reese) Green. After graduating from Minonk-Dana-Rutland High School in 1967, Gari attended Wartburg College and went on to work at Caterpillar Tractor Company in Peoria, IL, before being called to the priesthood. Gari attended Nashotah House Seminary from 1983 -1986. After graduation, Gari served four congregations in Rice Lake, Ladysmith, Greendale, and Kenosha, WI. In 1968, Gari met Kate (Thompson) at Wartburg College in Waverly,…
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Robert Cummings ‘75
On July 16, 2024, Robert “Bob” Glen Cummings, 71, passed away suddenly at his home in North Pole. Born on July 31, 1952, in East Chicago, Indiana, Bob lived a long and fulfilling life surrounded by family, friends and meaningful work. With family roots in Kentucky, Robert’s parents Joe and Emma chose to raise him in Whiting, Indiana, where he graduated from Clark High School in 1970. In 1973 Bob was a student at Wartburg College in Iowa and he decided to pursue an internship in Fairbanks, Alaska. Although the internship did not work out, Fairbanks sure did. He found work…
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Ruth Wetherell Swanson ‘52
Ruth Ellen Swanson was born February 26, 1930, in Shumway, Illinois and died on July 12, 2024, in Monona, Iowa. She was born to Seth and Alma (Laue) Wetherell and baptized at Trinity Lutheran. Ruth attended school in Shumway, Illinois and graduated from Beecher City High School in Beecher City, Illinois. She graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa with a degree in home economics and physical education. She taught in Waukon, Iowa and also was a substitute teacher in Monona, Iowa for several years. Ruth was married to Roger Swanson on August 22, 1954 in Shumway, Illinois. The family…
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Dorlin Moeller ‘58
Dorlin James “DJ” Moeller age 87 of Fairbank passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at Unity Point Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. Dorlin was born January 14, 1937 in rural Bremer county the son of Herman and Lydia (Matthias) Moeller. He grew up on the family farm in rural Fairbank, he attended and graduated from the Oran School. After high school he received his Bachelors Degree in Education at Wartburg College in Waverly. Dorlin began his teaching career in the Allison-Bristow School district and then the Wapsie Valley Community School district, retiring in 1997, altogether he taught mathematics for a…
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Cheryl Sorensen Matthias ‘65
Cheryl Anne Matthias, age 81, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024. Born on June 23, 1943, in Oelwein, Iowa, to Soren and Vermilia Sorensen, Cheryl lived a life dedicated to education, counseling, and her family. Cheryl is survived by her loving husband, Robert Matthias; her children, Tanya (Ed Kennedy) Matthias and Brock (Nicole) Matthias; her grandchildren Owen, Kira, Soren, and Brody and her sister, Beverly Sorensen. Her family will forever cherish the memories of her warm smile, infectious laugh and compassionate nature. A lifelong learner and educator, Cheryl graduated from Wartburg College in Iowa with a…