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
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Kanan Morris ’23
Kanan Morris ’23, Central City, is a mechanical engineer at MODUS, Waterloo.
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Rachel Green ’23
Rachel Green ’23, Pella, is a digital adoption and change management specialist at Vermeer Corp., Pella.
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Brayden Carlson ’23
Brayden Carlson ’23, Waverly, is a material view extender at John Deere, Waterloo.
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Arinda Barthel ’23
Arinda Barthel ’23, Saint Michael, Minn., is a hospice music therapist at Grace Hospice.
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Emma Strong ’22
Emma Strong ’22, Broomfield, Colo., earned a master’s degree in athletic training at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and is an academy assistant athletic trainer at Nashville Soccer Club.
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Maecie Wright Henson ’22
Izach and Maecie Wright ’22 Henson, Waterloo, announce the birth of Rhyder on June 8, 2024. Maecie earned a master’s degree in public health – epidemiology at the University of Iowa, Iowa City.
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Britt Avery ’22
Britt Avery ’22, Clive, is owner of Bloom and Boost, Clive.
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Dr. Londyn Witmer ’21
Dr. Londyn Witmer ’21, West Lawn, Pa., earned a Doctor of Chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, and is an associate chiropractor at Exuberance Chiropractic & Wellness Center, Lakeville, Minn.
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Autumn Voyles ’21
Autumn Voyles ’21, Kenosha, Wis., is a music therapist at Vitas Healthcare.
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Zach Brunkhorst ’21
Zach Brunkhorst ’21, Waterloo, is a district executive with the Boy Scouts of America Winnebago Council.
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Allison Bouffard Klaassen ’20
Allison Bouffard Klaassen ’20, Yukon, Okla., is a graduate student in occupational therapy at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City.
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Colin Jacobs ’19
Colin Jacobs ’19, Rochester, Minn., is a security ambassador at Mayo Clinic.
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Brian Hamilton ’19
Brian Hamilton ’19, Littleton, Colo., earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the Chicago School and is a crisis counselor at WellPower, a nonprofit helping connect underserved populations to mental health services.
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Abigail Mokhtary Skiba ’18
Robert Jr. and Abigail Mokhtary ’18 Skiba, Royalton, Minn., announce the birth of Loretta on March 29, 2024.
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Rev. Blake Shipman ’18
The Rev. Blake Shipman ’18 and Katie Ohren, Dubuque, were married Aug. 23, 2024.
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Karl Jaeschke ’18
Karl Jaeschke ’18, Boston, Mass., is a law student at Boston University School of Law.
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Madalynn McKelvey Baez ’18
Madalynn McKelvey Baez ’18, Rock Island, Ill., is an engineering and physics labs manager at North Park University.
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Alex Astiazaran ’18
Alex Astiazaran ’18, DeKalb, Ill., earned a master’s degree in higher education and student affairs from Northern Illinois University.
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Elliott Stern ’17
Elliott Stern ’17, Mendota Heights, Minn., earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Drake University, Des Moines, and is a technical training specialist at Infinite Campus, Blaine.
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Emily Almandinger Kuehn ’17
Allen and Emily Almandinger ’17 Kuehn, Des Moines, announce the birth of Noah on July 8, 2024.
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Donald Hein ’62
Donald Ray Hein, 85, of Fishers Indiana was called to the Lord Thursday, July 3, 2025. Don Hein was born May 24, 1940 in Oelwein, Iowa to the late Rev. Herman and Marie (Reyelts) Hein. Don was a remarkable athlete at Waverly High School, playing for the conference champion Waverly football team, pitcher for the…
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Brian Mirs ’89
Brian Lee Mirs, age 60 of Burnsville, MN passed away unexpectedly at his lake home on July 3, 2025. Brian was born on December 18, 1964 in Waverly, IA to Frank and Carol Mirs. Brian graduated in 1983 from Waverly Shell Rock High School, and in 1988 from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Brian earned…
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Cheryl Tomke ’71
Cheryl “Cheri” Tomke, 76, of Clarion, passed away on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Iowa Specialty Hospital in Clarion. Cheryl “Cheri” Lee Tomke was born at Hampton, Iowa on June 17, 1949 and was the only child of Joseph R. and Irma (Evans) Tomke of Clarion. In her youth, Cheri was active in Camp Fire…
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Rev. James Baseler ’69
Pastor James ‘Jim’ Edward Baseler, 78, of Toms Brook, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Greenfield Reflections of Woodstock. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev George Edward and Ruth Mardorf Baseler, his sister, Dorthy ‘Dottie’ Carvalho and nephew Eric Carvalho. Jim was born on October 21, 1946, in Bloomington,…
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Ardell Troester Dietzler ’61
Ardell (Troester) Dietzler, 86, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 21, 2025. She was born in Guttenberg, IA, on January 30, 1939, to the late Emil and Ruth Troester and grew up in Clayton County, IA. She loved to read, cook, quilt, sew, knit, and crochet. Ardell met her husband, William (Bill) at Wartburg College…
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Jeffrey Schroder ’77
Jeffrey “Jeff” Roy Schroder was born in West Union, Iowa on March 20, 1955, to Harry and Gertrude (Lauer) Schroder. He died on June 20, 2025, at the age of 70, after a courageous battle with cancer. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife Gwen, two daughters Alison (Mitchell) Stewart and Emily (Lane)…
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Aleece McNeilus Beadle ’71
Aleece Bobette Beadle, 93, of rural Dumont, passed away Friday, June 20, 2025, at UnityPoint-Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo. Aleece Bobette McNeilus was born January 17, 1932, the youngest of seven children, to William and Ethel (Walsh) McNeilus, ¼ mile west of Bristow. Aleece attended rural one room schools, Jefferson #2 near Coster and Jackson…
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Eric Skuster ’74
Eric Skuster, 73, formerly of Waverly, passed away in Urbandale, Iowa, on June 14, 2025. Born on April 4, 1952, in Osage, Eric was the eldest of five boys. His childhood was filled with simple joys like visiting the Jack & Jill grocery store to look at baseball cards on the back of cereal boxes.…
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Lila Antholz Nietfeld ’54
Lila Anna [Antholz] Nietfeld was born to Arthur & Helene [Ommen] Antholz, on August 23, 1932. Lila and her sister, Lucile, were raised north of McDonald, KS. She would gratefully recall family life on the farm and in the small surrounding communities—including active participation in the church where she was baptized, confirmed and nurtured in…
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Janice Cave Kay ’58
Janice Lucille Cave Kay of Wheaton, Illinois died June 10, 2025. Born March 13, 1936 in Waverly, Iowa, Janice was the daughter of Ethel Genevieve (Hunter) Cave and Earl Edmund Cave. Janice earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music, graduating in 1959 from Wartburg College, Waverly, IA where she studied both voice and piano. At…
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Timothy Pace ’77
Timothy Robert “Tim” Pace 1954 – 2025 Timothy “Tim” Robert Pace, 70, passed away June 9 in Independence, Missouri. A gathering to celebrate his life was held on June 24 at Crown Point Church in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Tim was born in Waverly on December 21, 1954, to Maurice “Pat” and Bernita (Volk) Pace. He…
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Diane Miller Schwartz ’77
Diane Lynette (Miller) Schwartz passed away on June 5, 2025, at her home in Story City. She was born November 12, 1955, the third of six children, to Ivan and Ethelmarie (Martin) Miller in Greenfield, Iowa. She was baptized into the Christian Faith and confirmed her baptismal promises at the United Methodist Church in Fontanelle.…
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Charlene Tutton Hunter ’66
Charlene Hunter, born May 14, 1944, in Buffalo Center, Iowa, to Charles and Anna Tutton, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025, with her family by her side. Charlene is survived by her son Jason, his wife Marites, and her grandson Josh. She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 40 years, W.…
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LaVonne Hendershot Leonard ’64
Lavonne Marie Leonard, age 82, of Greeley, Colorado passed away on Thursday, June 5, 2025. She was born on December 26, 1942, in Wadena Minnesota to Lyle and Lilian Hendershot. LaVonne grew up in Rochester, Minnesota where she attended John Marshall Senior High School, Rochester Junior College, and then went on to Wartburg College in…
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Rev. Richard Buchsteiner ’63
Rev. Richard W. Buchsteiner, age 84, of Bryan, passed away at his home on Friday evening, May 30, 2025. Pastor Buchsteiner retired from Trinity Lutheran Church in Bryan after serving the congregation for 32 years. He began his ministry at St. John Lutheran Church in Port Clinton, OH from 1967-1975 then served Trinity Lutheran from…
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Mark Thomas ’73
Mark Aldro Thomas (73), a beloved family man known for his joyful smile, witty nature, and celebrated career as an award winning social worker, claimed the promise of his baptism while in hospice care in his home in Broomfield Colorado on May 29, 2025. Mark was born on October 19, 1951 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin to…
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Carolyn Austin ’97
Carolyn Bernice Austin, lovingly known as “Cal,” peacefully received her wings on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the age of 51 at UnityPoint Health – Allen Hospital in Waterloo, Iowa. A devoted daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Carolyn’s life was a beautiful reflection of love, faith, and service. Her radiant smile, generous spirit, and…
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Donald Freeman ’55
Donald Carl Freeman was born on November 24, 1930, in Muscatine, Iowa, passed away on May 21, 2025, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He lived a life rich in purpose and passion, impacting the lives of many as a dedicated educator, photographer, and conservation activist. A strong presence within his community of Waverly, Iowa, Donald devoted his…
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Sarah Ellefson Groth ’11
Sarah Laurene (Ellefson) Groth was born on November 8, 1988, the daughter of James and Brenda (Fisher) Ellefson, in Marshalltown, Iowa. She attended Marshalltown Schools graduating in 2007. Sarah received her BA Degree from Wartburg College in 2011 and then obtained two Master’s Degrees – in education, curriculum and counseling. On October 8, 2011,…
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Donald Heidemann ’94
Donald Lee Heidemann November 10, 1971 – May 13, 2025 Donald Lee Heidemann, age 53, of Forest City, Iowa, died May 13th in his home after a struggle with mental illness. He leaves behind a legacy of love, humor, generosity, and deep devotion to his family, faith, and community. Don was born on November 10, 1971, in…