Fall 2009
Dear Classmates,
It has been 41 years since we first walked onto Luther’s campus to begin our journey together. Where has the time gone? Normally I do not think too much about the fleeting nature of time, but this year my musing about time has been prompted by loss.
As many of you may already know, Bruce Wrightsman died on October 4th. I last saw Bruce at our thirtieth reunion in 2002, where several of us from the class of ’72 enjoyed his and Amy’s hospitality for a few hours. While there, I remember thinking that time had not diminished my impression of him. He was still the dynamic, energetic, and intellectually curious personality he had been all those years ago when he first talked to us about the population bomb. It is from Bruce that I learned the importance of stewardship. That we have a responsibility to each other and the planet, which is inherent in the choices we make, a lesson I have never forgotten. The class of ’72 was well represented at his funeral and memorial. Julie Heberlein Reveley, Karen Worden Tjossem , Jane (Thiele) Henderson ’71, and Marilyn Fritz Shardlow all attended the visitation and the celebration of Bruce’s life that was held in the Center for Faith and Life.
On July 18th my college roommate, Carla Keeney, died after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Carla had been the driving force behind getting many of us to our 35th reunion, and we were able to share a wonderful weekend together in Decorah. Carla was the most positive and happy person that I have ever met. She had the ability to take the bumps and ruts in life’s road with grace and dignity. Six of her Luther friends made the trip to Green Bay to see her the last week of her life, most of us traveling from great distances. Only Becky Bakke Olafsen made it in time. For the five of us who didn’t make it--Reen Bond, Linda Erickson Gevock, Charlene Ward Davis, and Cathy Weist Schweitzer and I -- we spent the day in Green Bay celebrating Carla’s life, remembering and marveling at the strong bonds that we had formed all those years ago, that still held us together as if there had been no time in between.
These two losses, and the fact that I have begun my seventh decade—an event most of you will experience next year—have had me reflecting about Luther College’s impact on us. Luther has always been important to me, not only because of the education that I received there, but also because of the life-long friendships that began there. We all formed those friendships, and those bonds are still strong. So strong that we would travel to Decorah, Green Bay, and Minneapolis, among other places, to grieve and celebrate them when they are broken by death.
So, in memory of Bruce Wrightsman and Carla Keeney, and all those other classmates and friends who have gone before, I will be renewing my commitment to Luther College this year; this special place where it all began, and where it continues to begin for all of those who attend Luther. I hope that you will join me in that commitment. If you wish, you can make your memorial gift online at givenow.luther.edu.
May God bless you, and keep you, and make his face to shine upon you.
Sincerely,
Carol Solheim
1972 Class Agent
[email protected]
PS. “Luther College Women and Work Study”
Luther Professor of Accounting Ramona "Mona" (Feller) Nelson ’75 is conducting a research project on the career history, leadership experiences, entrepreneurial pursuits, work/life balance experiences, and general work-related perceptions of Luther alumnae from the graduation years of 1969-94. Women from the 1969-94 grad years are invited to participate in an online survey at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=x_2ff8dDNR8F96f3gdck4Xfw_3d_3d
If you have already completed the survey, thank you. If you did not receive previous notice of the survey, please go to the web address and complete it before January 5, 2010. Questions can be directed to Mona Nelson at [email protected].
Class Notes
ROBERT FELDE is a barista at Java John's Coffee House in Decorah, and author of the book, Life at the Crossroads: Reflections from a Country Store, published by Amazon.com.
MARK HENGESH retired from high school and college teaching and is now a part-time fifth-grade band director at Waterbury Elementary School in Roselle, Ill.
JAMES KNUDSON is senior pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Waterloo, Iowa.
APRIL (ULRING) LARSON is senior pastor at First Lutheran Church in Duluth, Minn.
SCOTT SORENSEN-JOLINK of Portland, Ore., is a baritone in the Portland Symphonic Choir. The choir of approximately 120 singers performs with the Oregon Symphony as well as in several concerts of its own each season.
STEVEN SORENSON of Ripon, Wis., teaches journalism and pre-law classes at Ripon (Wis.) College while maintaining a full-time law and mediation practice.
SUZANNE ELISSE (SVIEN) and RICHARD WELLS teach English and computer science at Guangdong University of Technology in Guangzhou, China.
Obituary
Carla Keeney of Green Bay, Wis., died July 18, 2009, at age 58, surrounded by family. After graduating from Luther, she received a master's degree in business administration from Michigan State University. Carla was employed as a systems engineer at IBM for many years. She volunteered with the Northeastern Wisconsin Arts Council and NEW Zoo, and she was involved in the Dudley Birder Chorale. Carla was also an active member of the Pilgrim Congregational Church music committee. She enjoyed singing, biking, quilting, and spending time with grandchildren. Carla is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren, her mother, a sister, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father.
Comments
Lives in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and is the literacy coach for the secondary public schools. Son Scott is a patent attorney in Minneapolis, and daughter Kristen is a third-year pharmacy student at Creighton. Husband Michael is retired.