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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David Burrier ’76
David ’76 and Sherry Burrier, Runnells, were married Jan. 1, 2022. He has authored and published 10 children’s books since retiring in 2019.
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Robert Atkins ’76
Robert Atkins ’76, Roscoe, Ill., is retired.
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Coby Carstens ’02
Coby Carstens ’02, Iowa City, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.
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David Van Driel ’72
David Van Driel ’72, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., earned a master’s degree from Rice University, Houston, and is CEO at Van Driel Ventures/Energy and Waste Network.
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Rev. Dianne Stange Prichard ’71
The Rev. Dianne Stange Prichard ’71, DeWitt, co-authored the book Raising America: Building a More Perfect Union.
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Dr. Erv Janssen ’58
Dr. Erv Janssen ’58, Tulsa, Okla., a U.S. Navy veteran, was a 2024 inductee in the Oklahoma Military Hall of Honor for his lifetime of service in support of the mental health of active duty service members, reservists, veterans, and their families.
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Dr. James Heddens ’60
James D. Heddens, D.P.M., Podiatrist Emeritus, passed away at the age of 88 on October 14 surrounded by his children. Jim was an active member of the Marshalltown community where he lived for over 60 years. He was born in Charles City in 1937, attended Wartburg College and graduated from the Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in 1962. In addition to practicing Podiatry, he was a member of the Rotary, Farm Bureau and an active landlord for many affordable housing units. Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years, Joan Heddens. He is survived by his three…
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Kayla Wiley Brokaw ’17
Tommy Brokaw and Kayla Wiley ’17, Monticello, were married July 12, 2025. She earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of South Dakota.
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Kerry Weldon Sarcone ’00
Matt Sarcone and Kerry Weldon ’00, West Des Moines, were married June 11, 2025.
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Marilyn Fick Luttinen ’66
Marilyn Kay Luttinen passed away on October 6, 2025 at the Quartet Senior Living Village in Bettendorf, Iowa. Born on May 12, 1944 in Los Angeles, California to Wilbur and Marcella Fick, Marilyn was a lifelong learner and dedicated to her faith. After receiving her Bachelor’s in teaching from Wartburg College, she was a Physical Education Teacher and later embraced the role of a homemaker with grace and dedication. She went on to work as a pre-school teacher, at a golf course with her husband, and as a pet-sitter. Outside of her professional life, Marilyn was known for her kindness…
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Joan Schwefel Schroeder ’55
Joan A. Schroeder, March 30, 1933 – October 2, 2025. Joan A. (Schwefel) Schroeder, age 92, passed peacefully on Thursday, October 2nd. Joan was born to her parents Evelyn (Zinzow) and William Schwefel in March 1933. The family established their home in Glendale WI – Joan the eldest joined by her brother Jon and sister Eve Lynn. Joan enjoyed the children in the neighborhood, swam in the Milwaukee River and rode the streetcar to visit her grandparents. Luther League provided a social and spiritual outlet for her as a young adult. Miss Schwefel attended Valparaiso University and then transferred to…
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Charlice Haug Offenheiser ’54
Charlice Rosena H. Offenheiser, 93, of rural Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, at her home with her family close by her side. Born February 11, 1932, in Freeport, Illinois, the daughter of Louis H. and Lavina (Groezinger) Haug. Charlice grew up on their Derinda farm, attending the one-room school in Derinda Center before going to Elizabeth High School. She spent her last two years at Stockton High School, where bus service was offered to the area, and graduated in 1950. She then received a two-year business degree from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, in 1952. Charlice…
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Wyatt Sheeder ’05
Wyatt Sheeder ’05, Wichita, Kan., is executive director at Senior Services of Wichita.
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Richard Gaard ’69
Richard Gaard ’69, Decorah, was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Iowa Golf Coaches Association. He coached at Decorah High School for 51 years.
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Gwendolyn Parlin Paulson ’65
Gwendolyn Anne Paulson, age 82, wife, mother, master teacher, pillar of her community, died Monday, September 22, 2025, in River Falls, Wisconsin. She was born on February 5, 1943, in Joliet, Illinois, a daughter of Raymond and Esther (Ziesemer) Parlin. She was united in marriage to Ed Paulson. She was a 1965 graduate of Wartburg College and later earned her master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Mary’s University in 1999. She was a K-1 teacher for Westside Elementary School; she served as the executive secretary for the National Association of Social Workers and was an administrative secretary for Ezekiel…
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Emily Hansel ’25
Emily Hansel ’25, Lombard, Ill., is an 8-12 grade German instructor at Geneva High School, Geneva.
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William Wachholz ’63
William “Bill” Wachholz, 85, of Wausau, WI, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2025. Bill was born on January 15, 1940, in Wausau to Marvin and Irmagard Wachholz. On June 7, 1969, he married the love of his life, Shirley Mielke. Together, they shared 24 wonderful years of marriage until Shirley’s passing, a time that was far too short. Bill devoted his professional career to Radant Insurance Agency, where his dedication and work ethic left a lasting impact. Beyond his career, he gave 50 years of service to the Wausau Noon Optimist Club and was a lifelong member of First…
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Nicholas Bottorff ’25
Nicholas Bottorff ’25, Hampton, is a loan administrator at Iowa Falls State Bank, Iowa Falls.
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Vernita Frese Baumgartner ’51
Vernita Marie Frese Baumgartner, age 93, of Fremont was born September 2, 1932 in Nora Springs IA, and departed this life to be with our Lord on September 18, 2025. The youngest of three daughters born to George and Julia (Ueker) Frese, Vernita grew up on the family farm outside of Nora Springs, surrounded by a closely-knit extended family. She attended both elementary school and high school in Nora Springs, participating in 4-H, theater, chorus, and Luther League at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. After graduating Valedictorian of her class, she attended Wartburg College in Waverly IA, where she enrolled in…
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Penelope Harms Hoeper ’86
Penelope Harms Hoeper ’86, Tripoli, is office coordinator for the Wartburg College Alumni & Parent Engagement Office, Waverly.
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Wendy Dietrich Meyer ’85
Wendy Meyer, 64, of Oskaloosa, passed away on the evening of January 14, 2026, at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines. Wendy Lee Meyer, daughter of Wendell Elmer Erwin and Ethel Joy (Nielsen) Dietrich, was born on August 31, 1961, in Price, Utah. When Wendy was young, her family lived in various cities. She graduated from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, in 1980. After graduation, Wendy attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, and earned a bachelor’s degree in business in 1985. She met Greg Arthur Meyer during her sophomore year at Wartburg while he was a freshman. The two…
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Gary Zittergruen ’80
Gary Lynn Zittergruen, 67, of Waverly, formerly of Van Horne, Iowa, died Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Mayo Clinic Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minnesota. Gary was born July 29, 1958, in Prairie Du Chien, WI, the son of Harlan and Dorothy (Mueller) Zittergruen. He grew up in Garnavillo, graduating high school in 1976. He then attended Wartburg College where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1980. Later, he received his master’s degree from the University of Iowa. On June 18, 1983, he was united in marriage to Jenny Barron in Guttenberg. He began his teaching career at Shellsburg Community School…
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Christopher Schmidt ’66
Christopher Karl Schmidt, 82, of Waverly, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community. Chris was born on June 1, 1943, in Ohio, the son of Karl and Viola (Grambau) Schmidt. He grew up in Waverly and graduated from Wartburg College in 1966. Chris and Mary Hjermstad were married in 1966, and he began his graduate studies at Iowa State University, earning his doctorate in Physics in 1971. Chris taught Physics at Hope College, the University of Pittsburgh and returned to Waverly to teach at Wartburg College. Chris taught at Wartburg until his retirement in…
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Richard Koehler ’65
Obituary for Richard “Dick” Koehler Departed on: January 12, 2026. Richard (Dick) Koehler, age 82, of Tama, Iowa, was born April 10, 1943, in New Hampton, son of Waldon and Arlene (Slack) Koehler. He graduated from Fredericksburg High School and earned a degree in music education from Wartburg College. He taught instrumental music for 19 years. He owned and operated a sporting goods store in Toledo before joining Horace Mann Insurance Company. He served as president of the Central Life Underwriters Association. He retired from Horace Mann after 22 years. He also worked for Tama County as a driving examiner for…
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Logan Ruffridge ’14
Logan Martin Ruffridge, August 29, 1991 — January 8, 2026. Logan Martin Ruffridge, 34, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. Born on August 29, 1991, in Cedar Rapids, Logan brought joy and energy to everyone he met from the very beginning. As the beloved son of Torry and Anne Ruffridge, he grew up in the heart of his hometown, embracing life with a spirit that was as vibrant as it was kind. Logan was a proud graduate of Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids,…
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Barbara Henry ’95
Barbara Henry, 53, died Thursday, January 1, 2026 at her apartment in Cedar Rapids. The only child of Dennis and Shirley (Schatzke) Henry, Barbara Kay Henry was born on July 21, 1972. After completing high school in Urbana, she attended Wartburg College. She was an avid sports fan and was an assistant student coach for girls’ softball and both boys’ and girls’ basketball. She was employed in various fields, such as a clerk for a marine dealership, a photographer, a clerk and receptionist at a law firm, and a document translator. She was most recently working as an administrative assistant…
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LeEllen “Lonni” Hoffman ’62
Lonni Hoffmann, 85, of DeWitt, Iowa, passed away in her home on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, with family at her side. LeEllen Grace “Lonni” Hoffmann was born on October 30, 1940, in Green Acres, Davenport, Iowa, to Clarence and Beatrice (Smith) Hoffmann. She was the second oldest of six daughters. The “son her father never had,” Lonni often worked side by side with her father from a young age-doing farm chores during grade school and later assisting with painting and carpentry projects throughout junior high and high school. She also helped her father remodel and open a family-operated nursing home…
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Paul Weiblen ’50
Professor Paul Willard Weiblen, 98 years old, died peacefully in the presence of family on Tuesday, December 23, 2025 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was born on February 15, 1927 in Miller, South Dakota to Anna Bellin Weiblen and George Daniel Weiblen. He was a lifelong learner and seeker of knowledge. He joined the Army in 1945 and served during the occupation of Germany. Thanks to the GI Bill, he earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Wartburg College and a master’s in European History from the University of Minnesota. He served the Defense Department during the Korean War and…
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Shirley Rodas Fosse ’81
Shirley Rodas Fosse, age 98, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Hospital North in Tampa, Florida. We look forward to seeing her in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! She was born on July 27, 1927, the second daughter to Frank and Emma (Whittman) Rodas in rural Clayton County, Iowa. She was baptized on August 14, 1927 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Elkport, Iowa. On August 13, 1939 she was confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church, Littleport, Iowa. Shirley attended country schools in Clayton County and graduated from the Elkader High School. She attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar…
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Sharyn Purcell Christensen ’64
Sharyn Lee (Purcell) Christensen of Bellevue, WA died on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at Peacefull Adult Family Home. Sharyn was born on November 22, 1942, in Beloit, WI to John Spencer Purcell and Helen (Sommer) Purcell. She was raised in Beloit, WI and attended Beloit Memorial High School where she was part of the R.O.T.C., graduating from high school in 1960. Sharyn attended Wartburg College in Waverly, IA where she graduated with a degree in Social Work in 1964. Sharyn married Thomas G. Christensen on August 23, 1964, in Beloit, WI at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Sharyn also attended the…
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Rev. David Hagemann ’77
On Tuesday December 16, 2025, our brother in Christ, David Roland Hagemann, died at Essentia Health- St. Mary’s Medical Center due to pulmonary complications while battling cancer. David was born to Robert F. Hagemann and Lorraine A. (Kolczaski) on December 2, 1954, in Lawton, Oklahoma. David spent his childhood years growing up in Mendota llinois, a small farming community, 60 miles west of Chicago. He was a member and attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mendota. While in Mendota, he graduated from Mendota High School in 1973 and went on to Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa. His seminary work was…
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Dr. James Fritschel ’51
James Erwin Fritschel, May 13, 1929 — December 15, 2025. Jim Fritschel was born on May 13, 1929, in Greeley, Colorado. He was originally named “Erwin James,” after his father Erwin (Doc) Fritschel, but Doc and his wife, Irma (Hast), always called him Jim, Jimmy, or James. And it stuck. Jim grew up as the eldest of three sons. With a pastor father and a church organist mother, Jim grew up surrounded by Lutheran faith and music. Word has it that sometimes the pastor was paid in bags of potatoes, and frugal Irma managed to readily feed the family with…
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Dr. Barry Greene ’63
Barry Raymond Greene, age 84, died on December 13, 2025, in Iowa City, Iowa. He was born on March 27, 1941, in Clinton, Iowa, to Earl and Mildred Greene. Barry grew up in postwar Clinton, Iowa, where he found joy and freedom in the rhythms of community life: parks, sports and music on the radio, neighborhood games, his bike, and the pull of the Mississippi River. He was a jock, a class clown, and a self-proclaimed crooner, known early on for his humor, competitiveness, and sharp observations about the world around him. Barry’s father, Earl, was the hero of his…
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Brenda Begalske George ’83
Brenda Le George (nee Begalske), age 66, passed away on December 11, 2025, at St. Luke’s Hospice following a four year long battle with breast cancer, surrounded by loved ones. Brenda was born to Walter “Gus” and Donna Begalske on February 7, 1959, in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin, as the oldest of three daughters. She attended MFL Community Schools in Monona, Iowa, where her father was a long-time teacher of physics and chemistry. She was an active member of the golf, softball and basketball teams at MFL, as well as band and choir. Brenda briefly attended Iowa State University before…
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Laurel Smeins Hibbard ’98
On Monday, December 8, 2025, Laurel Lee (Smeins) Hibbard won her long battle against cancer and passed through death into new life in Christ. Laurel was born on July 2, 1976, in Marshalltown, Iowa, to Dennis and Phyllis (Milhous) Smeins, joining big sister Sarah. Her childhood was filled with family, friends, time spent outdoors and at the lake, music, laughter, and above all else, love. She met her best friend, Melissa (Dooley) Barber, on the first day of first grade, and their friendship spanned a lifetime. Their circle of friends grew into what they would eventually call “The Group,” a…
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Dr. William Davis ’64
Dr. William A. “Bill” Davis, 83, a nationally recognized pioneer in the field of in-vitro fertilization, peacefully transitioned into eternal life at his home on December 7, 2025 with family by is side. Born on November 11, 1942. He devoted his career to giving life. He was a gifted and compassionate OB-GYN whose work helped countless couples conceive families of their own. His calm and affirming bedside manner, paired with his innovative work in reproductive endocrinology, leaves a multigenerational legacy of life and love. Bill was a true renaissance man — abundantly kind, generous, creative, intellectually curious, artistic, and adventurous.…
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Eleanor Schlueter Arneson ’53
Eleanor E. Arneson, age 95, of Mount Horeb, passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2025, in Mount Horeb. She was born on October 5, 1930, in Oconomowoc, Wis., the daughter of the Rev. Roland and Anna (Herbener) Schlueter. Eleanor graduated from Monona High School in Monona, Iowa, where she was a basketball star. Following high school, she attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Eleanor was united in marriage to Dale K. Arneson on February 20, 1955, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Monona, Iowa. Over the years, Eleanor worked as a homemaker and daycare provider, and at the Cave of…
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Diane Christensen Melrose ’72
Diane Pearl (Christensen) Melrose, age 88, of Charles City, was called home to her Lord on November 29, 2025. Born on November 17, 1937, in Montevideo, Minnesota to Arthur and Norma (Larsen) Christensen, Diane grew up surrounded by faith, family, and community. She lived in Montevideo until 1951, then moved with her family to Pipestone, Minnesota, where she graduated high school in 1955. Diane continued her studies at St. Cloud State College, earning her Associate of Education degree in 1958. It was there she (the cheerleader) met the love of her life, Andy Melrose (the football player). The two shared…
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Dale Pedersen ’72
Dale Allen Pedersen, 75, of Waukee, IA passed away on November 24, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer compounded by a recent stroke. His wife, Kathy, was by his side. Dale was born in the office of Dr. H. Frank Givens of West Bend, IA on December 8,1949 weighing 9 lbs. 10 oz., the second child of Alvin and Delva Pedersen. He was a 1968 graduate of Algona High School where his passion for sports led him to excel as a pitcher on the baseball team and an all-conference first team dead eye shooting guard for the basketball team. After…
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James Ristau ’73
James Conrad Ristau, 85, of Hampton, Iowa, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2025, at Rehabilitation Center of Hampton. James Conrad Ristau was born on August 23, 1940, to Clarence and Bernice (Hockenson) Ristau at the family home in Thornton, Iowa. Growing up with two sisters in a close family home, James loved Sundays which meant church, home-cooked meals, and lively baseball games with uncles and cousins. These gatherings became treasured traditions, instilling in James a lifelong love for family and the joy of coming together for good conversation. James spent his early years in Iowa before his family moved…