Spring 2013
Dear Luther Classmates,
I was reading an article in the Luther Alumni Magazine (Winter 2013) recently about President Torgerson and his wife, Judy, entitled “Energizing Years,” by Kate Frentzel. After fourteen years, they will be leaving Luther to reside full-time in Edina, Minn. Many words are used to describe President Torgerson throughout the article, including full of vitality, energetic, intense, passionate, careful listener, and strategic planner. Students think of him as a supporter and friend. When asked how he would like to be written into Luther’s history books, his reply was “I think I’d like people to say, ‘He was authentic, and he added value.’”
I think all of us would like to know that we added value or we made a difference. Paul’s older brother, David, was recently killed in an automobile accident. Paul spent some time in North Carolina helping take care of his brother’s estate. While he was there, many of David’s friends and neighbors told Paul stories of his kindness to people he met. When he was working on a construction job and a new worker showed up who couldn’t afford work boots, Dave got a pair of his boots and gave them to the new worker. When someone needed a coat, Dave gave them one of his. It was evident he touched many people with his kindness.
Our son, Chad, recently went on a trip to Florida with over 300 band, choir, and orchestra students from his high school. When he returned he told me that he almost forgot his sweatshirt. I asked where did you leave it? His reply was “I saw a girl from school at the theme park who only had a tank top on, and she was freezing, so I told her she could keep it until we got back to Iowa.” Then he added, “I wanted to be like Uncle Dave.” (Proud mom moment.)
I work at an elementary school, and every day since the beginning of the year our principal has ended the morning announcements with this phrase, “Be kind to others, it’s what matters most.”
What do you want your legacy to be?
On a side note, our 30-year class reunion is coming up next year. In 2014, Homecoming will be Oct. 10-12, so it’s time to start thinking about making hotel reservations this fall. Most of the hotels in Decorah start taking reservations a year in advance (Oct. 1 at midnight for Quality Inn, Oct. 3 at 9:00 a.m. for Country Inn, and after Oct. 6 for Super 8). For hotel information, go to luther.edu/lodging/decorah.
Be kind to others,
Paul & Sonja (Shatzer) Gibbs
pnsgibbs@msn.com
Michele Minske
mpminske@msn.com
Class Notes
CHRIS CARRON was named director of collections for the largest children’s museum in the world, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
ANNE (MATTSON) McAnallen is an investor reporting manager for GreenTree Servicing in Phoenix, Ariz.
Don't forget your Annual Fund giving!
Each year nearly 9,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $50,000. Strong support from alumni helps Luther secure additional funds from foundations and corporations, and your gift each year helps us reach our goal of 27% alumni giving. Here’s how your class—and surrounding classes—did in 2012:
Class of 1983 total giving in 2012: $79,672 from 24% of the class
Class of 1984 total giving in 2012: $89,811 from 27% of the class
Class of 1985 total giving in 2012: $40,853 from 25% of the class
Your gift can boost the impact your class has on current students! Please use the enclosed envelope or visit www.givenow.luther.edu to show your support. Thank you!
WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE:
This list includes all gifts received January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2012. Making a gift each and every year is an investment in the lives of Luther students and a show of support for the Luther College community. Thank you for your support of Luther College through your giving.
Marjorie (Noyes) Aamot
Jeffrey Anderson*
Mary Ellen (Palmquist) Anderson*
Ruth Anderson*
Bradley Baalson*
Gayle (Casebolt) Baalson*
Kathryn Bader
Mark Baller
James Berg*
Steven Berg*
Michael Bergan
Susan Beyer Lopez
Shelley (Benning) Bhuyan
Steven Birchard*
Lisa (Schomburg) Bocquin
Barbara (Carr) Boeding
Gail Bolson-Magnuson*
Lindy Borske-Hubbard*
Bruce Broman*
Dwight Bullard*
Eric Bunge
Christian Carron*
Robert Cassidy*
Tammra (Klopp) Cassidy*
Jon Christy*
Brett Darrington
Brenda Eldridge
Kari (Tollefson) Espinosa
Jodene Evans
Lisa (Hilstad) Feese
Brian Ferguson*
Ruth Fiedler-Eaton
Amy (Silseth) Ganske*
Susan (Orwoll) Garcia*
Debra (Stortz) Garwood-Schacherer
Paul Gibbs*
Sonja (Shatzer) Gibbs*
Kim Gleason-Hink
Kari Hansen
Steven Harder
Lee Hash*
Susan (Engen) Heinzeroth
Ruth Heuer*
Karen (Skagen) Hiller*
Paul Hink
Sara (Andreasen) Hopkins
Stephen Hopkins
Susan (Haedt) Horick
Mark Hostager
Duane Hovick*
Brenda (Schultz) Howard
Craig Ibsen
Wendy (Wellner) Ike
Claire Imsland*
Saori (Sato) Iwatsuka
Eric Ketelsen
Alan Klepper*
Kirsten (Tranvik) Klepper*
Linda (Larson) Kluge
Kathy (Fjelland) Kolden*
Mark Koukkari*
Beth (Birkinbine) Krupke
James Kust
Tim Lecander
Mary (Nelson) Manges*
Anne (Mattson) McAnallen*
Timothy McCarthy
Bradford McKay*
Roslyn (Burgess) McKay*
Birgitta Meade
Michele Minske
Karen (Bruess) Nemecek*
Jean Nesta-Berry
Michael Newcomer*
Terri (Thompson) Niles
Eileen O'Brien Denner*
Lars Oldenburg
Toby Olsen
Bruce Olson*
Mary (Bjelland) Orban
Elizabeth Paetz Jackson*
Solveig (Eiler) Perrett
Debora Petersen
John Piller*
Gretchen (Ranum) Poffenberger
DeAnn Possehl*
Bradley Prestemon
Jodi (Bowen) Punke*
W. Todd Punke*
Robert Reese
Cynthia Reitz
Marti (Tomson) Rodamaker*
Knute Rotto
Pamela (Carrington) Rotto
Peter Rudolf*
John Sacquitne
Wendy (McComb) Scheerer
Timothy Selbo
Kay (Wiederhoeft) Simmons*
Jeffrey Snyder
Mark Stenhaug*
P. Sean Taylor
Henry Tieman*
Kathryn (Rathjen) Tulppo
Ingrid Urberg
Amy (Leland) Usgaard
Anne Vaaler
Sara (Baumgardner) Vaughn*
Beth (Solberg) Vivant*
Tracey (Hovden) Walsh
Nancy (Lenz) Western
Deborah Will
Barbara (Huisinga) Willoughby
Kristi (Tollefson) Wolf
Patricia (Haugen) Wright
Rebecca (Dowd) Wright*
Thomas Wright
Nancy (Rodenbeck) Wuttke*
Jennifer (Johnson) Zuppan*
* made a gift in each of the last five consecutive years.
Every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If an error has been made, please accept our apology and contact the Luther Development Office at 800-225-8664, or e-mail giving@luther.edu.
