From left to right: Sarah (Klemp) Berwald, Anna (Klemp) Martin, Scott Krueger, Rev. Stephen Klemp, Matthew Klemp, Philip Klemp, Katherine Klemp Krueger, Rev. Robert Krueger, Peter Klemp, Rob Krueger, Paula (Klemp) Wilson, Marcus Klemp, John Krueger
Following in their father’s footsteps has been a legacy in itself for the Klemp children. Their father, Rev. Paul Klemp, HS ‘57, JC ‘59, followed his Current Concordia students Anna Krueger (Freshman), own father, Eugene Emily Klemp (Sophomore), Jack Krueger (Junior) Klemp’s, HS ‘25, JC ‘27, and Noah Klemp (Senior) legacy in attending both Concordia High School and Junior College. “CSP is all about family,” Rev. Stephen Klemp, ‘93 says, “I attended there with two older brothers (Phil and Peter, BA ‘92) as well as walking in the footsteps of my dad. Much of who I am today was formed and solidified while attending CSP.” The feeling of home is something Katherine’s children have reiterated and can trace back when looking at the start of their own families. Sarah and Peter both met their spouses while attending CSP, and consider campus as a second home. “Every time Gail [(Newman), BA ‘90] and I return to the campus it feels like home,” Peter shares. He adds that it has been exciting to see all of the new renovations on campus, from the health and wellness center, to the Hyatt dorms, and the remodeling of the music building, noting that these are spaces his son, Noah, BA ‘21, has been able to utilize as a current student. Katherine tells a humorous anecdote, explaining her children’s desire to follow in their family’s footsteps. She and her late husband, Paul, had brought the family to visit Phil, the first child to attend CSP. “I remember we were sitting out on a picnic table over by Central. Phil talked us into going to get ice cream and we had bubble gum ice cream. We’re sitting at the table and he says ‘I can’t believe you guys haven’t had bubble gum ice cream before,’ and Marcus says, ‘Phil, here you sit in the lap of luxury and you’re criticizing us because we haven’t had bubble gum ice cream’.”
Katherine laughs, noting that to her children CSP was the lap of luxury. Currently, there are four Krueger/Klemp students continuing the legacy at CSP, with the youngest, Anna Krueger, ‘24, noting how unique it is to have one legacy student in each class (Noah Klemp, ‘21, Jack Krueger, ‘22, Emily Klemp, ‘23, and Anna). CSP has always felt like home to Anna and her brother, Jack, as both of their parents, Rob and Rachel are math professors. She says, “I have run around here since I was a child.” Jack also highlights these childhood memories, reminiscing over time spent hanging out in the math offices with his parents, “I would always play around in the phone booth and throw stress balls down the hallways and look at the stuffed goose that now takes my place in the phone booth.” Their father, Rob Krueger, is the current head of the math department. While he is not a CSP alumnus, he shares this is only because they hadn’t offered a complete math program at the time. Instead, he went to Concordia University Nebraska, and earned his Ph.D. at University of Nebraska, where he met his wife, Rachel. Together, they came back to CSP to help start the math program that Rob had been seeking many years prior. “I was called to Concordia University, St. Paul and accepted the position in 2001,” he shares. “Together with Rachel and Dr. Sarah Jahn, we built a math program we are very proud of. The cherry on top is that our son, Jack, is now a student in our program.” Anna (Klemp) Martin, BA ‘98 notes the excitement of seeing their legacy live on saying, “I am so happy to see my nephews and nieces who are able to go to CSP and hear the stories of the great experiences they are having there!” “My prayer is that Concordia University, St. Paul will flourish for another 30 years so we can add another generation to our legacy!” Rob adds. With the abundance of grandchildren between the Kruegers and Klemps, their legacy is bound to live on at Concordia, St. Paul.
FALL/WINTER 2020 • CONCO RDIA ST. PAUL MAGAZINE
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