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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Elizabeth Larson Skov ‘67
Elizabeth Katherine Skov, a beloved wife, dedicated teacher, and cherished matriarch, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2024, at the age of 83. She was born on July 18, 1940, to Clifford and Katherine (Norby) Larson in Osage, Iowa, and later settled in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Elizabeth’s life was marked by love and devotion. In…
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James Sinnott ‘75
James Michael Sinnott, 70 of Waterloo, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, under Care Initiatives Hospice at Ravenwood Specialty Care in Waterloo. James was born on May 1, 1953, in Waverly, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents Leo Sinnott and Evelyn (Eichmann) Sinnott, by his brother Joseph Sinnott and…
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Charles Fischer ‘73
Charlie left us suddenly on Monday, February 19, 2024. We will miss his sense of humor and his positive unique spin on life. Charles John Fischer was born February 13, 1948, in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and was raised in Latimer, Iowa. He graduated from CAL Community in 1966, and then went on to graduate from…
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Jane Marten Claussen ’60
Jane Rosemary Claussen, 85, of Defiance, Ohio passed away on February 18, 2024. She was born in Muscatine, Iowa on December 23, 1938, to the late Henry and Anna (Rueckert) Marten. On June 25, 1961, she married the Rev. Ronald Claussen at Zion Lutheran Church in Muscatine, Iowa and they shared almost 50 years together.…
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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…
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Karen Jones ‘69
Karen Marie Jones, 76, of Waterloo, Iowa passed away Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at North Crest Specialty Care, following a brief stay. She was cared for by friends in her home prior to that stay. She was born November 22, 1947, in Waterloo, Iowa, the daughter of Charles and Nell (Wright) Jones. At the age…
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Kelley Burg Mikesh ‘98
Kelley Kathleen (Burg) Mikesh, age 47, passed away peacefully at Cherry Meadows Hospice in Appleton, Wisconsin on Monday, February 12, 2024. Kelley Kathleen Burg, age 47, was born to Barbara and Philip Burg on February 22, 1976 in Waukon, IA. Kelley was baptized at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, Iowa. Kelley attended St. Benedict…
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Dr. Paul Samo ‘89
Paul John Samo, age 57, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, February 11, 2024, in Legacy Cottage at Creekside in Grundy Center, Iowa. Paul was born on August 8, 1966, to Jack and Jackie (Walbaum) Samo in Grundy Center. He attended Grundy Center High School, graduating in 1985. He received his Bachelor of…
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John Pearson ‘71
John W. Pearson, 75, of Rockford, Iowa, died Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Floyd County Memorial Center.John William Pearson was born on December 19, 1948, in Waterloo, Iowa, to William Boyd and Maxine Jane (Trunkey) Pearson. He was the older of two sons. He was a resident of LaPorte City, Iowa, until adulthood. His…
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Marilyn Stortz Reicks-Botterbrodt ’69
Marilyn Louise Reicks-Botterbrodt, 91, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at her home in Hartman, Arkansas in front of her large picture window overlooking the lake, her “happy place”. She was lovingly surrounded by her husband and family.Marilyn Louise Stortz was born on June 11, 1932 in Decorah, IA to parents, Alfred and…
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Allen Lyndrup ‘67
Allen Wayne Lyndrup, 79, our great Viking warrior, teacher, and lover of life passed away on February 4, 2024. Allen was born in Oak Park, IL on January 29, 1945. After finding a passion for being involved in a show at Central High School in Clifton, IL, Allen studied theater at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Like his parents…
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Cynthia Yess ‘71
CYNTHIA “CY” SUE YESS, died on the morning of Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Lakeshore Inn in Waseca. Cy was born to Marvin and Milly (Holtz) Yess on July 26, 1949. She was their second child and was an amazing sister to her big sister Carolyn and her baby brother Curt. Cy was baptized…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Gretchen Watson ‘01
Gretchen Michelle Watson, 45, passed away January 23, 2024. Gretchen was born August 25, 1978, in Waterloo, IA, to Rand Eugene and Brenda Mae (Rockwood) Watson. She graduated from Janesville Consolidated School in 1996 in Janesville, IA. Gretchen received her BA in Business Administration from Wartburg College in Waverly, IA in 2000. Gretchen was self-employed,…
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Michael Nedoba ‘92
Michael James Nedoba, 53, of Holmen, Wisconsin passed away early Tuesday morning at 4:19, January 23rd, 2024 at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Mike was born in 1970, the youngest son to Curt and Carol (nee Fehr) Nedoba in Waterloo, Iowa. He attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa and then the…
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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…
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Rev. David Andreae ‘65
Rev. David Harold Andreae, age 80, passed away Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Elkader Care Center. He was born March 18, 1943, inOelwein to Herbert J. and Esther M. (Zwanziger) Andreae. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Sebald Lutheran Church, rural Strawberry Point. The family farmed in Clayton County between Strawberry Point and…
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Dr. Ryan Winters ‘03
Ryan Randall Winters, 43, of Denver, Colorado, formally of Iowa Falls, passed away Tuesday January 16, 2024. Ryan was born on September 5, 1980 in Iowa Falls, Iowa to Randy and Dianna (Bahr) Winters. He graduated from Iowa Falls High School in the class of 1999. His academic and athletic accomplishments were vast in school,…
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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…