Alumni Notes

SUBMITTED BETWEEN OCTOBER 20, 2020 AND MARCH 21, 2021

SUBMIT YOUR OWN ALUMNI NOTES AT ONE.CSP.EDU/SHAREYOURNEWS

Awards

1980s

Mark Moss, BA ‘81 was selected as a board member for Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

2000s

Jamie Walker, BA ‘07, MBA ‘19 was awarded Healthcare Leader of the Year by GDS, a global leadership organization.

2010s

Angela Lewis, BA ‘10 has been accepted into the International Society of Female Professionals.

Keisha Davis, MA ‘11, Assistant Principal of Birch Grove Elementary School for the Arts in the Osseo Area Public Schools, is Minnesota’s 2021 National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) Outstanding Assistant Principal.

ADOPTIONS/BIRTHS

1960s

Dolores Holm, JC ‘61 is anticipating the birth of her first granddaughter in June.

1970s

Christine (Blaske) Wood, BA ‘79 has been blessed with 11 grandchildren. She looks forward to welcoming her second great grandchild in June.

1980s

Rev. Dr. Joel Boesche, BA ‘83 and his wife welcomed their first grandchild in April 2021.

2000s

Tara (McMiller), BA ‘09, Ryan, and Maggie Darling welcomed Mack Ryan into their lives on November 9, 2020.

2010s

Gerald Miller, BA ‘10, MA ‘12 and his wife Nicole are proud parents to Luke (5), Lucy (3), and Leah (1).

Kellie (Doble), BA ‘12 and Patrick McCabe welcomed Bennett to their family in May 2020. Big brother Theo loves giving his little bro hugs and kisses.

CAREER

1960s

Raymond, JC ‘60 and Neva (DeGroat), JC ‘60 Geweke are both retired and are thankful for their time at CSP and the impact it made on their lives.

Rev. Bob, AA ‘61 and Alice (Kratt), AA ‘62, MA ‘00 Smith live in Hawaii, where Bob serves as vacancy pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Ewa Beach on the island of Oahu.

Raymond Hauer, AA ‘63 served for 39 years in Lutheran education as a teacher and a principal. He and his wife of 53 years, Erika, have three grown children: Peter. Nicole, and Bryan and six grandchildren.

Rev. Robert Tasler, ‘65 was ordained 50 years ago. He continues to publish daily devotionals, novels and Bible studies.

Ronald Rall, AA ‘67 is currently serving with OIM as a part-time missionary to Papua New Guinea.

Enith (Degler) Bailey, BA ‘69 took her original call to Trinity Lutheran School Wisconsin Dells, Wisc. after summer school at CSP in 1969. She retired from teaching there after 52 years. She is still under contract as church music director, choir director, and church organist. She continues to live in Wisconsin Dells.

Stan Tordsen, BA ‘69 just finished serving as an English Conversation Partner to students in both Puerto Rico and the Czech Republic. Stan has been a writer for Hope- Full Living, devotions for seniors. In November 2016, Stan received the LCEF Fred E. Lietz Ministry Award for his work with the Young Investors Program at St. John’s Lutheran in Stewartville, Minn. He retired in 2010 after teaching 39 years in the Stewartville Public School District.

1970s

Jane Wallukait, BA ‘71 enjoys subbing and teaching a school math enrichment program for grades 4 through 8 every summer. She also mentors new teachers.

Linnette (Shumacher) Thomason, BA ‘73 retired in June 2018 after 40 years of teaching. She is now enjoying her nine grandchildren and is a substitute teacher when needed.

Wendell Robson, BA ‘76 retired after 44 years serving in the Lutheran teaching ministry. Thirty-four of those years were serving as a school principal or administrator. His wife, Dawn, is also retired. They now reside in Chandler, Ariz.

Craig Mathews, BA ‘77 retired from pastoral ministry on May 31, 2020. He is an ACE certified personal trainer working part-time at the Bradenton YMCA in Bradenton, Fla.

Paul, BA ‘77 and Joy (Blasingame), BA ‘77, MA ‘98 Mueller retired from Concordia Portland in January 2020 and moved to Florida. Paul retired from Mission Training Center (MTC) in March 2021. He continues to serve on various boards related to Gospel proclamation, mission and outreach. They have six grandkids - two in Spokane, Wash. with their daughter Rachel (Joe), and four in Lake Elmo, Minn.: two with their son Brandon (Juli), and two with their son Michael (Donna).

Lee Hass, ‘78 retired in 2015. He and his wife have two children and two grandsons. They love camping, bowling, and golf.

Kathy (Remund) Lane, BA ‘78 retired from DCE ministry in June 2020. She served congregations in Manitowoc and Appleton, Wisc.

George Earhart, BA ‘79 retired in January 2018.

1980s

David Funke, BA ‘81 retired after 39 years of ministry (5 years in Calgary, Alberta, and 34 years in St. Louis, Mo.).

Brian Moldenhauer, BA ‘85 has worked in auto sales for General Motors for 27 years.

Lori (Potratz) Gamble, BA ‘82 recently retired from DCE ministry and is currently serving as a Mary Kay Independent Consultant and helps her husband, Bruce Gamble, with Bruce’s Home Repair.

2000s

Kristina (Clark) Gaalaas, ‘02 renovated a turn of the century home into her financial services office to help revitalize vacant buildings in Grand Rapids, Minn.

Dustin Kalis, BA ‘04 was hired as Fire Chief of the Lake Elmo Fire Department in September 2020.

Cory Olson, BA ‘04, MA ‘06, MBA ‘14 has been named President of Maxwell Healthcare Associates (MHA) and will serve as a member of MHA’s Executive Leadership team.

JoAnn Gordon Mays, MA ‘05 became the CEO/Owner of Nani’s Sweets in 2019.

Sherry Kollmann, MA ‘07 was named the first vice provost for digital learning initiatives at New Mexico State University, a new role created to develop and drive an online and digital education strategy for the university.

Evan Palenschat, BA ‘08 has been elected partner at King & Spalding LLP.

Nicole Frethem, MA ‘09 was reelected to the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners in November 2020.

2010s

Theresa Starkman, MA ‘10 is an adjunct faculty member at Concordia St. Paul and the Assistant Director of Special Services and Learning for South St. Paul Public Schools.

Thomas Gillespie, MBA ‘11 has been named President and CEO of Living Well Disability Services.

Adam Woods, BA ‘16, MA ‘18 began a new role as Assistant Principal at Osseo Senior High, Osseo, Minn. He also accepted a position as an adjunct professor at St. Cloud State University where he is finishing his superintendent license.

Patrick Bejjani, BA ‘19 lives in Beirut, Lebanon. He shares, “This should tell a lot. My country is bankrupt, the pandemic is spreading, and we faced the world’s second largest explosion. CSP taught me to remain strong and use my knowledge and my heart to keep moving forward. As a founder of a vocational school for exercise professionals, I managed to keep my school surviving no matter what. I am grateful to CSP and all my peers who supported me.”

Ashley O’Reilly, BA ‘19 transitioned from teaching second grade to preschool at Goddard School. She is married to Jordan.

2020s

Tim Hoyt, MA ‘20 was appointed police chief of the New Hope, Minn. police department.

Alberta Konadu, BA ‘20 accepted a full time position at a childcare facility two weeks after graduation. Her employer loved that she had work experience in Early Childhood Education.

Christopher Lian, MA ‘20 is a teacher. He and his wife have four boys ages 7, 5, 5, and 3.

Michelle Mahoney, MBA ‘20 began a new job as Associate Director of Statistics for a major pharmaceutical company. She is also an adjunct faculty member for Concordia’s MBS program.

IN MEMORIAM

1930s

Rev. Roland Jank, Sr., HS ‘38, JC ‘40 passed away on January 27, 2021.

1950s

Rev. Frederick Koehler, HS ‘50, JC ‘52 passed away on January 18, 2021.

Walter Hed, JC ‘53 passed away on February 9, 2021.

Richard Krogen, JC ‘56 passed away on January 14, 2021.

Arlene (Syrjala) Tarvainen, JC ‘56 passed away on November 29, 2020.

Janet (Emanuel) Landgraf, JC ‘57 passed away on October 23, 2020.

1960s

Norbert Strecker, HS ‘61, JC ‘63, BA ‘65 passed away on January 25, 2021.

Lowell Braun, HS ‘63, AA ‘65 passed away on November 17, 2020.

David Marth, AA ‘67 passed away on February 19, 2021.

Kathryn (Hahn) McKinney, BA ‘69 passed away on October 22, 2020.

1970s

Madalyn Petersen, BA ‘73 passed away on January 9, 2021.

Rev. Terry Jobst, BA ‘77 passed away on June 27, 2020.

Rev. Gary Downs, BA ‘78 passed away on January 24, 2021.

Carlos (Chuck) Gomez, BA ‘78 passed away on January 5, 2021.

1980s

Rev. Michael Vokt, BA ‘80 passed away on January 25, 2021.

Susan Ostermann, BA ‘85 passed away on February 2, 2021.

Ramona Kramer, BA ‘87 passed away on December 28, 2020.

1990s

Lois Burg, BA ‘91 passed away on November 9, 2020.

Douglas Martin, BA ‘94 has passed away.

Ward Yunker, BA ‘98 passed away on January 13, 2021.

2000s

Stephanie (Gergen) Lohrenz, BA ‘03 passed away on November 7, 2020.

2010s

Dorothy Piatti, MA ‘10 passed away on October 9, 2020.

EDUCATION

2000s

Samuel Momah, BA ‘00 earned three degrees after earning his Bachelor’s degree from CSP. His degrees include: MS Engineering, MBA Technology Management, and Ph.D. Management and Organization Leadership.

Jacob Thorson, BA ‘08 graduated from Bethel University in August 2020 with a Masters in Ministry.

Karen Davis Platt, MA ‘06 began studies in CSP’s Doctorate of Education Educational Leadership program.

2010s

Allison Pfleghaar, BA ‘14 is graduating on May 2, 2021 from Florida Gulf Coast University with a Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy.

Della Buege, BA ‘19 is on the path to becoming a licensed clinical mental health therapist.

2020s

Daniel Carter, BA ‘20 was recently accepted for graduate studies at Concordia St. Paul.

Jessie Nagler, MS ‘20 is finishing up a few more classes, then starting medical school.

ENGAGEMENT/ MARRIAGES/ ANNIVERSARIES

1960s

Curtis Foreman, JC ‘60 and Judy Wogsland were married on September 26, 2020.

Richard, HS ‘60, JC ‘64 and Kathleen Wagenknecht celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on October 22, 2020.

Gary, HS ‘62, JC ‘64 and Mary Mueller celebrated their 50th anniversary on August 1, 2020. They are moving in late March 2021 to Hawkins, Mo.

Phyllis (Foreman), BA ‘65 and Rodney Otto will celebrate their 55th anniversary on July 2, 2021.

Lyle, AA ‘67 and Suzanne Matthias celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on June 14, 2020.

Sharon (Schmidt), BA ‘68 and Charles Rosen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 15, 2020.

1970s

John, BA ‘72 and Cheryl (Carlson), BA ‘70 Lindner celebrated their 49th anniversary on November 27, 2020.

1980s

Rev. Wayne, BA ‘82 and Becky King celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in September 2020. God has blessed them with two daughters, two sons-in-law and five grandchildren.

2000s

Elizabeth (Caulkins) Tharp, BA ‘08 married Nathan Ryley Tharp on Sunday, November 29, 2020 in Jacksonville, Tex. They reside together in Tyler, Tex.

Elin Hogan-Gomez, BA ‘09 married Adam Hogan on September 18, 2020 in St. Louis, MO.

2010s

Natalie (Pieper) Raabe, BA ‘15, MA ‘20 married Alec Raabe in Plymouth, Minn. on November 25, 2020.

Kennedy Lukoye, MA ‘19 got married in 2020 and also wrote a book, his memoir, released in April 2021.

GENERAL NEWS

1930s

Frederic Lussky, HS ‘38, JC ‘40 celebrated his 100th birthday in March 2021.

1970s

Susan (Blom) Peters, BA ‘73 celebrated her 70th birthday in 2020.

2000s

Michelle Salcedo, MA ‘08 recently had a book, Uncover the Roots of Challenging Behavior, published. It is available through Free Spirit Publishing and Amazon.

2010s

Danielle (Bredy) Sarim, BA ‘12, is a Board member of Moe123, a non-profit scholarship fund based in Minneapolis. Her family founded Moe123 in early 2018 in honor of her brother-in-law, Mostafa “Moe” Sarim, who passed away from complications of the flu. http://moe123sf.org/

2020s

Natalie Orbeck, BS ‘20 is a veteran, nurse, mother, and a widow since losing her husband to leukemia four years ago. After Josh passed, Natasha became passionate about fighting against blood cancers. She has been nominated for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2021 Woman of the Year. https://pages.lls.org/ mwoy/mn/mn21/norbeck

Marc, MA ‘20 and Michelle Pentland are moving to their forever home in Florida after Michelle retires in Spring 2020.

INSTALLATIONS/ ORDINATIONS

1990s

Shawn Hecksel, BA ‘97 was ordained and installed on January 24, 2021 as Pastor of Faith Formation at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Carmel, Ind.

2000s

Rev. Christopher Martin, ‘02 was installed as Senior Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church, Ladysmith, Wisc. and Glen Flora Lutheran Church, Glen Flora, Wisc. in November 2020.

2010s

Jon Kuehne, BA ‘11 accepted a call and is now serving as Campus Pastor of Trinity First Lutheran School in Minneapolis, Minn.

Maria Markman, BA ‘16 serves as Associate Pastor of Faith Formation at Grace Lutheran Church in Andover, Minn.