Alumni/ae News

Updated March 17, 2010

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The 00s - back to the top

Leslie Neist, '09, was ordained Dec. 20, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Albert Lea, Minn. She was called to and installed on Jan. 17, 2010 at Little Cedar Lutheran Church and Marshall Lutheran Church in Adams, Minn.  (submitted 1/19/2010)   Emily Myallis, '08, Emily Myallis was Consecrated as a Diaconal Minister on August 30, 2008 in Lebanon, Penn., Lower Susquehanna Synod.  She is called to Eldercare, a day-program for older adults, and to Zion's Lutheran Church in Jonestown, Penn.  (submitted 9/4/2009)   Craig Nehring, '07, accepted a call to serve Zion & Peace Lutheran Church in Caroline and Split Rock, Wisc. in September, 2009.  (submitted 12/29/2009)   Allison K. Schmitt, '07, is serving as communication assistant for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, headquartered in Jerusalem. In this capacity she publishes the ELCJHL newsletter, the "ELCJHL e-pistle," manages the church's website (www.elcjhl.org), communicates with local media and worldwide partners and assists ELCJHL Bishop Munib Younan with his English-language speeches and sermons.  (submitted 2/3/2010)   Scott Block, '06, recently had his book "From Death to Life: We have this sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" published by Wipf and Stock Publishers in Oregon. The book is available for purchase from them and can also be purchased at Amazon.  (submitted 10/19/2009)   Amy Poppinga, '06, Amy is currently working on a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Hartford Seminary and the University of Exeter. She teaches in the History department at Bethel University in St. Paul. She lives in Maplewood with her husband, Eric, and two young sons.  (submitted 2/21/2010)   Charlie Leonard, '05, received and accepted a call as senior pastor at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie, Minn. He began serving in October of 2009. He joins Heidi Heimgartner (Luther Seminary, 2000) who is the associate pastor there.  (submitted 2/12/2010)   Jason Bazzle, '02, has been appointed Director of Music at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Summerville, S.C. He formerly served seven years as Director of Music at Bethel United Methodist Church in Walterboro, S.C.  (submitted 11/4/2009)   Jeannine Brown, '02, has been elected to The Committee on Bible Translation (CBT) and will immediately join the ongoing translation work of the CBT, including their work on the previously announced update of the New International Version (NIV) Bible, slated for publication in 2011. Dr. Jeannine Brown is Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She received a Master of Divinity from Bethel and her Ph.D. from Luther Seminary. She has written several articles and a book on hermeneutics.  (submitted 11/9/2009)   Melinda Melhus, '01, has accepted a new call to serve as associate pastor at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in West Salem, Wisc. She previously served as pastor at Ostmark Lutheran Church in Watkins, Minn.  A complete news article regarding her call can be found online at www.couleenews.com/articles/2009/10/08/features/00apastor.txt  (submitted 10/19/2009)   Elizabeth Eide, '01, has accepted a call to serve as one of the three pastors at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minn.  She formerly served as solo pastor at St. James Lutheran Church in Barrington, R.I. for the last seven years.  Elizabeth, along with her husband Nick, and their twins Jackson and Sophia, are excited to be back in the Midwest, close to family and friends.  (submitted 10/19/2009)   John Jahr, '00, has been appointed choral music director of the West Central Singers in Willmar, Minn.  He currently serves as director of worship and music at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar, where he directs several choirs and serves as organist.  (submitted 9/14/2009)   Anne Andert, '00, and David Andert, '74, have recently been called to serve as pastors at Faith Lutheran Church, Janesville, Wis. An article regarding their call to Faith Lutheran can be found at http://gazettextra.com/news/2009/nov/23/clergy-couple-pair-work-great-together-faith-luthe/  (submitted 11/30/2009)

The 90s - back to the top

Stephanie Swanson, '99, and Charles Swanson, '07, welcomed daughter Sadie Alice Swanson on September 17th.  (submitted 11/17/2009)   Deanna Wildermuth, '97, will be installed as the new pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Mercer Island, Wash., during a special service on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 at 3 p.m. She most recently served as pastor at Sharon Lutheran Church in Grand Forks, N.D. Wildermuth also served as associate pastor at Saint Luke's Church in Bellevue, Wash., as well as other positions in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and North Dakota.  She is married to Keith, her husband of 25 years.  They have two grown sons, Alan and Daniel.  (submitted 9/24/2009)

The 80s - back to the top

Tom Schlotterback, '87, has been appointed as Director of Vocation and Church Leadership at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. Rev. Schlotterback previously served congregations in Fremont and Omaha, Neb. He most recently has served as senior pastor of King of Glory Lutheran Church, Billings, Mont., and as a member of Concordia's Board of Regents. He is married to Sarah E. (Swanson), a music teacher and director of music and worship at King of Glory Lutheran Church. They have five children. Rev. Schlotterback will assist Concordia in its mission to be a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, exploring emerging creative partnerships with synodical and churchwide expressions of the ELCA. He will begin his work in January, 2010.  (submitted 9/28/2009)   Rusty Edwards, '85, has published hymns in CELEBRATING GRACE: Hymnal for Baptist Worship, ZION STILL SINGS: African American hymnbook, and HYMNS OF GLORY,SONGS OF PRAISE (Canterbury:UK). His hymns have been published in 68 books used by three dozen denominations in 8 countries.  (submitted 3/11/2010)   Carl Eeman, '83, published 2 books in 2009. He converted his blogging entries covering the 2008-9 Franken & Coleman Senate struggle to: Recounting Minnesota, Blogging the Al Franken Election Saga. In November came Eeman's 1st novel: Encampment. Encampment retells the history of the 1913 Reunion at Gettysburg of 54000 Civil War veterans. In an intriguing speculation Eeman asks 'what if 5000 black veterans had joined the 54,000 whites? Could America have made peace blue, gray, black and white?' Both books are available from the publisher melangepress.com, and in bookstores and online.  (submitted 2/21/2010)   Robert Stroud, '81, edited the inaugural issue of a new journal about the military chaplaincy. Curtana: Sword of Mercy is available for free download at www.justwar101.com/journal.  (submitted 11/22/2009)

The 70s - back to the top

Jeffrey Barrow, '79, was elected on Dec. 5 as bishop of the Greater Milwaukee Synod of the ELCA. Barrow is currently an assistant to the bishop in the synod and senior pastor of Holy Communion Lutheran Church, Racine, Wis. He previously served as pastor of two other congregations: Zion Lutheran of Arneckeville, Cuero, Texas, and Ascension Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, Wis. Barrow also served as executive director of the Koinonia Community, Highland Lake, N.Y.  (submitted 12/14/2009)   Richard (Dick) Schedtler, '77, died Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, at his home in San Diego, Calif., after a short battle with cancer.  Dick served as pastor in many congregations, including St. John's Lutheran Church in Northfield, Minn.  (submitted 9/24/2009)   Ronald F. Marshall, '75, published his article, "Driven by God: Kierkegaard's Parable of the Royal Coachman" in Toward the Final Crossroads: Festschrift for Edna Hong and Howard Hong, Mercer University Press, edited by Jamie Lorentzen.  (submitted 10/28/2009)   Ronald F. Marshall, '75, published his essay "No Quack Doctor: Kierkegaard's Dialectical Understanding of God's Changelessness" in volume 23 of the International Kierkegaard Commentary, Mercer University Press, 2009.  (submitted 12/31/2009)   Ronald F. Marshall, '75, published his sermon, "Bless St. Mary" (Luke 1:48), at Logia online (Blogia), January 30, 2010.  (submitted 1/30/2010)

The 60s - back to the top

Peter Hovland, '66, Peter died suddenly and unexpectedly on Dec. 21, 2009.  Check with family or local congregation in Mora, MN for details.  (submitted 12/21/2009)

The 50s - back to the top

George Voeks, '58, died at Prospect Park Living Center on Friday, September 25, 2009. He was 90 years old. George served as pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Morris, Ill. for 5 years and at East Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minn. for 26 years. He served the interdenominational Estes Park Church of Joy from 1992-1998.  George enjoyed meeting others, spending time with his family and enjoyed most of all sharing the love of Jesus. On any given day if asked, "How are you Pastor V?", his response would be "I'm living in the Victory!" Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at East Immanuel Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minn. See www.allnutt.com to read George's on-line obituary and send a message to the family.  (submitted 10/5/2009)   Victor Andersen, '57, died in January, 2010 and memorial services were held on January 29, 2010 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Austin, Texas. He served for 41 years as a Lutheran pastor in Nebraska, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas.  He is survived by his wife, Helen, and his children.  (submitted 2/3/2010)   Maynard Larson, '55, died Tuesday, March 9, 2010 at the Dunn County Healthcare Center in Menomonie, Wisc. A memorial service was held on Monday, March 15, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Menomonie. Pastor Maynard loved sharing the Word of God with all his parishioners throughout the years and was called to many churches to speak God's ministry.  He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Menomonie.  (submitted 3/17/2010)   Harlan Blockhus, '54, died February 2, 2010 at Northfield Retirement Community.  Harlan's first parish was in Armstrong, Iowa.  He then started a mission church, Prince of Peace, in Des Moines, Iowa.  In 1965 he started another mission church, Redeemer Lutheran in Waverly, Iowa.  In 1978 Harlan began working in development at Lutheran Social Services and served as chaplain for the Beloit Children's Home in Ames, Iowa.  He worked at LSS until his retirement. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, and four daughters.    (submitted 2/3/2010)   Alton Larsen, '53, died at his home in Minneapolis, Minn., on Sunday, October 4, 2009.  He was 91.  After being ordained, Alton served three churches in or near Ostrander, Minn., and worked to help them merge into one, Trinity Lutheran.  Alton served in Ostrander for 11 years before moving to rural Zumbrota, Minn., where he served for 20 years as pastor of Lands Lutheran Church and Minneola Lutheran Church.  Services for Alton and his son, Eric, who died September 13, 2009, were held at Lands Lutheran Church, rural Zumbrota, on Friday, October 9, 2009.  (submitted 10/8/2009)   Clifford Grindland, '51, died in September, 2009. Funeral services were held on September 15, 2009 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria, Minn. During his 39 years of ministry, Cliff served parishes in Maskell, Obert and Wynot, Neb.(1951-54); St. John's Lutheran in Webster, S.D. (1954-60); First Lutheran in Morris, Minn.(1960-84) and as interim pastor at Marietta and Nassau Lutheran Churches (1985-91). He is survived by his wife, Enid, and four children.  (submitted 9/17/2009)

The 40s - back to the top

Clifford Nelson, '49, recently of Dixon, Ill., died January 12, 2010 after a brief hospitalization. Funeral services were held January 16 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in rural Belmond, Iowa.  Clifford was ordained in 1949 and served congregations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota during 50 years of active ministry.  (submitted 1/25/2010)   E. J. Haanstad, '43, died October 2, 2009, in Mendota, Illinois. Pastor Haanstad served parishes in North Dakota and South Dakota, and he also established a Home Mission church in South San Francisco.  He served as Chaplain/Administrator of the Mendota Lutheran Home in Mendota, Illinois at the time of his retirement in 1981.  (submitted 12/10/2009)

The 30s - back to the top

Jennings Feroe, '39, died Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, at Northfield Hospital, Northfield, Minn. Jennings was a member of St. John's Church in Northfield and a member of Retired Ministers Group. He served as pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mankato, Minn. until 1973, and after that worked in the Development Department at St. Olaf College, Northfield, until 1979. He then served as visitation pastor at St. John's until retiring in 1997.  Jennings was former board president of Lutheran Social Services, chairman of the Board of Missions of the ELCA, former vice-president of the Southern Minnesota  Synod, and a former Regent and Distinguished Alumnus of St. Olaf College.  He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Elaine, and five children.  (submitted 11/30/2009)