for 35 years and previously led congregations in Wymore and Omaha, NE.
’75 Rev. Dr. Mark Pries was awarded the Warburg College Alumni Citation in October 2011 in recognition of his spirited service to church and community. He has spent 36 years in service to the ELCA. Most recently, he served Peace, Pella, IA for 20 years before accepting his current call at Zion, Iowa City, IA. Early in his career, he served with his internship mentor and fellow Wartburg alumnus, Rev. John Beem at Holy Trinity, Dubuque, IA. Mark initiated the Dubuque Jail Chaplaincy Program and served on the Dubuque Human Rights Commission. Rev. Vernon Jahnke died July 13, 2012. He served St. Paul’s, DeWitt, NE; First, St. James, NE; Our Savior and Church of the Brethren both in LaVerne, CA.
’81 Rev. Betty L Thompson died February 28, 2012. She served Nazareth, Camridge, IA and as chaplain at Mitchellville Women’s Prison, IA.
Rosalie, NE and Christ the King, St. Peters, MO. She was a former Board Member at Wartburg from 1996-1999, she was also student body president 1990-1991.
’07 Rev. Britt Vickstrom accepted a call at St. James, Bettendorf, IA. She previously served at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Plattsburg, NY.
’09 Rev. Craig Brown was honored by the Corridor Business Journal as one of the outstanding leaders under the age of 40 in the Iowa CityCedar Rapids (Iowa) Corridor in its Oct. 22 issue and at an Oct. 23 awards dinner. Rev. Ann Klavano was ordained June 23, 2012. She has accepted a call through the Global Mission unit of the ELCA serving as a seminary teacher and librarian at Senior Flierl Seminary in Logaweng, Papua New Guinea. Rev. Stephanie Wherry was ordained and installed as pastor at Seeds of Faith, Lisbon, IA, on March 25, 2012.
Rev. Thomas Jones has retired. He previously served Immanuel, Independence, IA.
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Rev. Dr. James Nieman was installed as President of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago on October 28, 2012.
’86 Rev. Shelley Wickstrom was elected and installed as Bishop of the Alaska Synod. Rev. Wickstrom was formerly the Ministry Leadership Coordinator for Region 1 of the ELCA. Prior to that she served a parish in Montana and one in Alaska.
’88 Rev. Harold Eppley’s eighth book and first novel, Ash Wednesday, was published by Oconee Spirit Press in February 2012. It takes a comedic and occasionally irreverent look at small town life and the decline of mainline religion in contemporary America.
’91 Rev. Norma J. Vander Meer died August 8, 2012. She served First LC of Jordon, Sterling, IL; Faith, South Beloit, IL; Fellowship, Tulsa, OK; Bethany, Lyons, NE; Immanuel,
Rev. Jo Kinnard was ordained on July 2, 2012. She has accepted a call to Holy Redeemer, Cedar Rapids, IA.
Rev. Charles Underwood was ordained on August 5, 2012 He has accepted a call to Elizabeth, Caldwell, TX.
Rev. Jenna Couch was ordained July 14, 2012. She has accepted a call to Zion Evangelical, La Porte City, IA.
Rev. Marilyn Miller was ordained on June 10, 2012. She has accepted a call to Reformation, Milwaukee, WI.
Rev. Marsha Vollkommer was ordained on September 22, 2012. She has accepted a call to Grace Episcopal, Galena, IL.
Rev. Christopher Deines was ordained on June 23, 2012. He has accepted a call to St. Matthew’s, Butler, MO.
Rev. Roberta Pierce was ordained on July 15, 2012. She has accepted a call to Zion, Fairview, MT.
Rev. Mark Doidge was ordained on August 26, 2012. He has accepted a call to Holy Communion, Racine, WI.
Rev. Dr. Mamy Ranaivoson was ordained on July 14, 2012. He has accepted a call to Trinity, Topeka, KS.
Rev. Cindy Warmbier-Meyer was ordained on June 21, 2012. She has accepted a call to be Assoc. Pastor at Calvary, Green Bay, WI. As an outreach of Calvary, she will also serve as Lead Pastor at Christ Community, Bellevue, WI.
Rev. Bradley Dokken was ordained on August 4, 2012. He has accepted a call to St. Johns, Marion, WI.
Rev. Marilyn Robinson was ordained on September 23, 2012. She has accepted a call to Ascension, Tulsa, OK.
Rev. Dana Helsing was ordained August 18, 2012. He has accepted a call to Christ the King, Goldendale, WA.
Rev. Scott Roser was ordained on June 17, 2012. He has accepted a call to Emmanuel, Strawberry Point, IA.
Rev. Dennis Hill was ordained on June 16, 2012. He has accepted a call to Lord of Love, Galena, IL.
Rev. Paul Schick was ordained on August 26, 2012. He has accepted a call to Trinity, Bismarck, ND.
Rev. Andrew Kayes was ordained on October 28, 2012. He has accepted a call to Emmanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oregon, IL.
Rev. Garrett Siemsen was ordained on August 26, 2012. He has accepted a call to La Casa de Cristo, Scottsdale, AZ.
Rev. Steve Winsor was ordained on June 13, 2012. He has accepted a call to St Paul, Hampton, IA. STUDENT NOTES Jennifer Dahle, submitted the winning homily for the National Workshop on Christian Unity student contest, sponsored by the Lutheran Ecumenical Representatives Network. Jenni was invited to attend the National Workshop on Christian Unity in Oklahoma City and delivered her homily at one of the worship services.
’11 Rev. Kary Jonas was ordained on March 11, 2012. She has accepted a call to Chimney Rock and Grace in the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin.
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Rev. Robert Corum was ordained on August 11, 2012. He has accepted a call to Faith, Seward, NE.
Commencement 2012
Rev. Matthew Agee was ordained on June 23, 2012. He has accepted a call to Church of Our Savior, Fond du Lac, WI. Rev. Rita Augsburger was ordained on June 16, 2012. She has accepted a call to Zion, Buffalo Lake, MN. Rev. Cole Bentley was ordained on July 29, 2012. He has accepted a call to United as One Lutheran Parish; Powers Lake, ND. Rev. Jeffery Bergeron was ordained on June 10, 2012. He has accepted a call to Martin Luther Evangelical, Victoria, TX. Rev. Andrew Berry was ordained on June 17, 2012. He has accepted a call to Littlefork, Littlefork, MN. Rev. Marcus Bigott was ordained on June 3, 2012. He has accepted a call to Hutto, Hutto, TX. Rev. Jennie Collins was ordained on June 10, 2012. She has accepted a call to Saint Andrew, Wausau, WI. Rev. Nicholas Collins was ordained on June 29, 2012. He has accepted a call to Hope, Sioux Falls, SD.
Wartburg Seminary honored forty- six degree and certificate candidates at commencement exercises on May 13, 2012. President Stanley N. Olson said of the students who were honored, “These men and women are gracious, gifted, and well prepared to serve Christ’s church. Wartburg Seminary is grateful to have had a role in their formation. I’ve enjoyed getting to know these fine people. It will be a joy to hear their stories of ministry in coming years.” In addition, Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees were awarded to May Burt Persaud and Bishop Dr. Thomas Lip Tet Tsen. The Living Loehe Award was awarded to Dorothy Bowen and Pastor Harold E. Oelschlager.
LifeTogether | Fall 2012
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