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  • Merlin Nomann ‘51

    Merlin (Mel) NomannJune 9, 1928 – October 21, 2021Modesto, California – Merlin (Mel) John Nomann died at home on October 21, 2021, at the age of 93.Mel was born on June 9, 1928, in Palmer Iowa. Mel grew up in Pocahontas Iowa after completing high school in 1947.After high school he obtain a variety of certifications in radiology. While working in Tillamook Oregon, he met his wife.In 1950, at the start of the Korean war, Mel chose to enlist in the Navy. He was briefly stationed at the Mare Island Naval base. Shortly after his eldest son was born, he…


  • Lorraine Lynes Chester ‘47

    Lorraine Chester, 94, of Plainfield, Iowa, died on Thursday, July 8, 2021, at Good Neighbor Society Nursing Home in Manchester, Iowa, of heart failure.            Lorraine was born on June 11, 1927, at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital in Waverly, Iowa, the daughter of James Kendal and Lenora (Kuethe) Lynes.  She was baptized in 1927 and confirmed in 1943 both at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Waverly. Lorraine attended the Plainfield School System, graduating in 1943, from the Plainfield High School, and continued her education at Wartburg College in Waverly for 2 years. On June 11, 1945, Lorraine was united in marriage…


  • Dorothy Prottengeier Meier ‘48

    Dorothy M. Meier, 96, of Wapakoneta, died 3:30 a.m., Mon. June 28, 2021, at the Wapakoneta Manor.She was born July 27, 1924, in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of John Louis and Mary Ann (Erdman) Braun. On Feb. 6, 1943, she married Frederick Eugene Meier, who preceded her in death on May 8, 1986.Dorothy lived a long life, blessed in many ways. She loved and talked much of her years of working at W.T. Grant Company, Val Stores, and the Teddy Bear restaurant, all in Wapakoneta. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she sang in the adult choir and…


  • Bonita Karmie ‘75

    Bonita (Bonnie) Joy Karmie, 67, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a protracted illness on April 9, 2021, Gulf Breeze, FL. Bonnie was born on November 14, 1953 in Chicago, IL, to Alvin and Geraldine Karmie. She was Baptized on September 13, 1964, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Oaklawn, IL. Bonnie graduated with honors from Oak Lawn Community High School in 1971, and graduated Cum Laude from Warburg College in Waverly, Iowa, with a BAED majoring in History. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi. Bonnie received her Master in Ed with an emphasis in Private School Administration…


  • Rev. George Krumrey ‘51

    George Edward Krumrey, 95, passed away on Easter Sunday, April 4, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Edith (Mueller) Krumrey and his wife, Phyllis Christine Krumrey. George is lovingly remembered by his son, David Allen Krumrey (Julie); daughter, Carol Elizabeth Rouse (Garret); and grandchildren: Lauren, Garrett, Gracie, Dylan, and Emma. George was a Navy veteran. He was a longtime Lutheran minister, starting in Oklahoma then serving several congregations in Iowa-Hampton, Ankeny, Dubuque, and Des Moines. He was a community activist and volunteered his time helping clean up the east side. George and Phyllis were active…


  • Marilyn Azbell Reid ‘65

    Marilyn Irene Reid, 81, of Waterloo formerly of Greene, died Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at Friendship Village in Waterloo. She was born October 9, 1943 in Kankakee, Ill., the daughter of William and Irene (Meyers) Azbell. She married John “Jack” Reid on December 10, 1983 at the United Methodist Church in Marble Rock. He preceded her in death on June 28, 2011. Marilyn graduated from Waverly High School in 1961 and received her BA in teaching from UNI. She worked as a third-grade teacher for many years at Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock School District until retiring in 2005. She enjoyed reading books,…


  • Jack Mueller ‘73

    Jack R. Mueller,77, passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday morning, January 7, 2025, in Mason City, Iowa.  Jack was born May 6, 1947, in New Hampton, Iowa, the only son of Willis and Doris (Liebenstein) Mueller. He grew up in Fredericksburg, attending Fredericksburg High School and graduating in 1965. He went on to obtain his Bachelor of Science degree from Wartburg College and finished his education at Mayo Clinic School of Physical Therapy. Jack served many communities as a Physical Therapist, eventually retiring from MercyOne North Iowa in Mason City.  In 1974, Jack married Marilyn Eisenhauer, and the…


  • Judith Rieniets Schwake ‘58

    Judith K. Schwake, 86, of Sumner, died Monday, January 6, 2025, at the Hillcrest Home in Sumner. Judith Kay (Rieniets) Schwake was born May 19, 1938, to Frederick and Kathryn (Gerdes) Rieniets in Monticello, Iowa. She was baptized into the Christian faith at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Monticello, where she received her Christian instruction and was confirmed. Judy graduated from Monticello Public High School in 1956. During school she was an active member of the speech club, winning awards for interpretive reading. She taught Sunday School throughout high school, even attending a class at a place called the Sunday School…


  • Douglas Brown ‘83

    Douglas Dean Brown, September 3, 1960  –  January 5, 2025. Douglas Dean Brown, 64, of North Liberty, passed away at his home surrounded by family. Doug was born on September 3, 1960 in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of Kenneth and Minerva (Nuss) Brown. He was raised in Dysart, Iowa, graduating in 1979 from Dysart-Geneseo High School. His youth activities included choir, band, and Zion Lutheran Church youth groups. He attended and graduated from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa in 1983. He fell in love with and married Linda Cooper on July 17, 1999 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Iowa City Iowa. A…


  • Marilyn Rosdail-Moller ‘75

    Marilyn Carol Rosdail-Moller, 72, passed away on December 31, 2024. She was born on April 19, 1952, to Milton and Marvel (Barr) Rosdail in Storm Lake, Iowa. She was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Marilyn was the eldest child and helped her mother care for 7 lively brothers & sisters while growing up. She helped cook and clean–and became an excellent seamstress–eventually earning the title, “Miss Betty Crocker” for her homemaking knowledge. Marilyn also spent time with her father in the gas station and, later, his garage, where she may have helped him repair…


  • Janice Winter Perine ’57

    Janice Alice Perine, age 89, of Glendale, Arizona passed away on Monday, December 30, 2024. Janice was born on a farm near Parkston, South Dakota on January 25,1935 as the 4th child to Albert Winter and Hulda Uttecht Winter. She weighed 9 pounds and 11 ounces at birth. On February 23, 1935, she went on to be baptized in a country church close to the farm called Eigenfeld Lutheran church. Since her youth Janice was a big fan of her uncle Dan. He would carry her all over town on Saturday night when the farmers did their marketing. Dan would…


  • Paul Anderson ‘66

    It is with profound sadness that the family of Paul Gene Anderson announces his passing after a prolonged illness, on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at his home in Houston, Texas. He was 81 years old.Early Life and EducationPaul was born on August 12, 1943, in Ironwood, Michigan, the son of Theodore Grant and Florence Hackett Anderson. He spent much of his childhood in Wausau, Wisconsin, where he developed a deep appreciation for both the rugged beauty of the Upper Midwest and the values of community and learning instilled by his father, who served as the principal of John Marshall High School.…


  • Allen Hansen ’92

    Allen Edward Hansen, 55, of Lake City, passed away unexpectedly of complications from Congestive Heart Failure, at Hansen’s Harbor on December 28, 2024. Allen was born May 14, 1969 to Peter and Jane Hansen in Lake City. He grew up, lived, and worked his entire life at Hansen’s Harbor, getting his start by running forklifts by the age of 10. In his later years, he managed the business and did all the maintenance, boat repairs, and care. He was proud of the development of the building of the harbor store as well as many docks over the years and the…


  • Jeff Sandlin ‘06

    Jeffrey Nels Sandlin passed away on December 26, 2024. His heart could not overcome a recent illness after enduring many years of medical challenges. Jeff was born December 30, 1983, in Belleville, Illinois, the only son of Rev. Kenneth and Marcia (Haupt) Sandlin. He spent his early childhood in Cahokia, where he loved to watch the planes take off from the downtown St. Louis airport and to look out the patio door at the St. Louis Gateway Arch. His elementary, middle, and high school years were spent in Hillsboro, IL, where he graduated from high school in 2002. Following high…


  • Lois Rueber Cordes ‘58

    Lois Elaine Cordes, 85, of Strawberry Point, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, at MercyOne Medical Center in Waterloo. She was born on May 16, 1939, on her grandparents’ farm near Oelwein, the daughter of Arnold and Wilma (Brickman) Rueber.  Lois attended Putnam #11 Country School and then attended Arlington Schools and graduated from Arlington High School. Lois then attended and graduated from Wartburg College. She began her teaching career at the Monona Elementary School where she met the love of her life, Norman Cordes, at St. Paul Lutheran Church during choir practice.   On June 28, 1959,…


  • John Goeman ‘61

    John Goeman, age 86, of Madison, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 at Bethel Lutheran Home. John A. Goeman was born September 8, 1938 northeast of Madison to John “Jack” and Adelia (Fischer) Goeman. He grew up on the family farm and attended grade school and high school at General Beadle School and attended college for two years at Dakota State University. Goeman also attended Wartburg College in Iowa and graduated with a First-Class Electronic Engineering Degree from Brown Institute of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He joined the staff of KJAM AM Radio as an Engineer/Announcer in 1959. He also…


  • Rev. Frederick Henkelmann ‘70

    Reverend Frederick W. Henkelmann, 76, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Pigeon, died on December 25, 2024. Fred was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin on June 25, 1948, to Reverend Ernst and Evelyn (Westphal) Henkelmann. At age 2, his family moved to Pigeon, Michigan where he attended Cross Lutheran School and Laker High School, graduating in 1966. Fred received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wartburg College in 1970, the same year he married Raylene Friederich on June 20th. Fred continued on to earn his Master of Divinity degree in 1974 from Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, during which…


  • Frieda Schmitz ‘64

    Frieda Fay Schmitz, 82, of Manchester, Iowa, passed away on Christmas Eve Day, Tuesday, December 24, 2024, at Meth-Wick Woodlands in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was born on January 17, 1942, in Manchester, the daughter of Dr. Orville and Harriet (Holverson) Schmitz. Frieda lived in Manchester with her parents and two sisters, Sharell Ann and Mary Lee.  She attended school in Manchester where she was active in marching band, concert band, cheerleading, newspaper, yearbook, and National Honor Society. While in high school, Frieda volunteered for Head Start and at the Good Neighbor Home. Frieda was the only girl in Science…


  • Beverly Shreve Menk ‘56

    Beverly “Bev” Ann Menk (née Shreve), age 88, of New Brighton, Minnesota, passed away surrounded by family on December 20, 2024. Bev was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Shreve; mother, Velma (Smith) Shreve; and grandson, Colton Menk. She is survived by her loving husband, Thomas Menk; her children, Jill (Barry) Froehlich, Roger Menk (Viviana Schwab), Bryce (Colette) Menk, Sara (Scott) Chartier, and John (Carrie) Menk; and grandchildren, Spencer (Alyssa) Menk, Hallie Froehlich, Britta (Jack) Reiman, Danielle and Jack Menk, Eric and Kira Chartier, Reuben and Theodore Menk, and Tyler, Rae, and Kyle Schwab; as well as six wonderful…


  • Cecelia Dykstra ’21

    Cecelia Elise Dykstra, 27, slipped into eternity on December 17, 2024 at home in North Aurora, Illinois. She entered this life with the sunrise on May 24, 1997 in Aurora, Illinois. Her arrival was eagerly awaited by her parents, David and Valerie Brown Dykstra, and her big sister, Victoria. Cecelia, who was affectionately known as C.C., was a baptized and confirmed member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Aurora, Illinois where she enjoyed working with the preschool classes at vacation Bible school. She attended Schneider Elementary School, Jefferson Middle School, and graduated from West Aurora High School in 2015. C.C. loved music and performing; she…


  • Rev. Dean Brockmeier ‘62

    Rev. Dean was born on October 11th, 1940 and passed away on December 15th, 2024 at the age of 84. On December 15th, after a life of ministering to others, the Rev. Dean C. Brockmeier passed on to his heavenly reward surrounded by his family. Born October 11th, 1940, in Holdredge NE, Dean grew up on a cattle farm but felt the call to the ministry as a teenager. He graduated from Wartburg Seminary in 1966 and soon after married Carolyn “Kari” (Strey) Brockmeier, an RN and the loving and practical hands that complemented his spiritual heart. Dean will be…


  • Jan Schmidt ‘65

    Jan A. Schmidt passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024, in Manchester, Iowa. Jan was born on February 25, 1943, in Strawberry Point, Iowa, the son of Alex and Helen (Hock) Schmidt. He was confirmed at St. Sebald Church, graduated from Strawberry Point High School in 1961 and went on the receive his BS from Wartburg College in 1967. Following college, Jan served in the Airforce as a Staff Sargent at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas from 1966-1970. After he returned from service, he attended the University of Illinois and earned his Master’s in Social Work. He dedicated his career…


  • Paul Sly ‘62

    Paul Eldon Sly passed away on December 12, 2024, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, Illinois. Paul was born on September 2,1940, in Ft. Madison, Iowa, to Arthur and Lois Sly. He grew up in Nauvoo, Illinois, alongside his brother, Dennis.  In 1958, he graduated Valedictorian of his class from Nauvoo High School and continued his education at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.  After completing two years of study, he transferred to Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, to complete a degree in Civil Engineering. While there, he was an active member of the Beta Sigma Psi Fraternity. After college, he…


  • Harold Schlesinger ‘59

    Harold “Hal” L. Schlesinger Obituary It is with a deep sense of sorrow that we announce the passing of Harold LeRoy Schlesinger, 87, who left us on December 10, 2024, in Franklin Grove, Illinois. Hal was born July 2, 1937, in Mendota to Homer and Edith (Martin) Schmidt. Edith passed away shortly after his birth, and he was then lovingly raised by Harold and Mary Schlesinger. He graduated Mendota High School in 1955 and attended Wartburg College. Hal honorably served in the United States Army. During his travels he resided in California for a time but settled back in his…


  • Roger Palmer ’64

    Roger Sherman Palmer was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on September 4, 1942, to Charles Aaron and Cora Viola (Henderson) Palmer. Nearing the age of 44, Cora followed her doctor’s orders and went to the hospital in La Crosse even though the family resided in nearby Waukon, Iowa. Birth in Wisconsin was probably the beginning of Roger’s life-long love of the Green Bay Packers. Roger was the caboose of the five Palmer children. He was one of “The Nines”: Verle (18), Helen (9), and Roger (0). The other two siblings were the first-born, Lee, and the oldest daughter, Pat, who…