Fall 2009

Dear Classmate,

Time surely seems to fly. It really sped up this past December, though, as our oldest child and daughter became engaged to be married. As the plans started to unveil (no pun intended!), she talked of a nice, simple ceremony at home in the back woods, which it was. But even “simple ceremony at home” required numerous projects to fix up/tear down/plant/paint/decorate and so on. Simple also did not seem to equate with inexpensive. We believe some wise person said of the government budgets that with a “few billion here and a few billion there, after awhile we’re talking about some real money.” The same can be said of a wedding! We wouldn’t change any part of that experience and day. Anna was a beautiful bride (what else can parents feel) and she married a wonderful guy. Their lives changed forever that day.

We’re certain you have all had experiences that highlight and change your lives. We continue to feel through the years our time at Luther was exactly that. Surely the costs of maintaining an institution such as Luther College and delivering a quality product are never ending. It takes the commitment of many to make it all happen. We thank all of you who have contributed to Luther with your resources of money as well as your time.

Our percentage of giving in our class has dropped this past year. We would like to encourage and challenge your giving to Luther no matter what size the gift. After all, like the government quote, with a little here and a little there, after awhile we’re talking real money! There is no question this is a challenging time for many individuals financially and Luther has also felt the effects from the economic downturn. Luther is doing its part to conserve, with efforts being made to reduce overuse of resources as outlined in their strategic plan.

Please note that Luther has expanded their Legacy Scholarship Program (providing $1,000 for any alumni family member attending Luther) to now giving the same amount of $1,000 to any student who attends Luther after being nominated by a Luther alumnus. This nomination needs to be in by February 10, 2010.  You can find the online form at https://www2.luther.edu/admissions/form/. 

Thank you for considering Luther in your giving plans, and continue to make use, if you can, of matching gift opportunities.  You can even make a gift today at givenow.luther.edu.

And so we find ourselves resting in the wedding afterglow and enjoying all that a wonderful and incredibly beautiful Midwestern Fall has to offer. We hope all of you can take a minute out from “life” and find some of your own quiet moments. You’ll be glad you did!

Sincerely,

Bill and Kris (Skeate) Osterbur
1977 Class Agents
[email protected]
[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
MICHAEL BARTHOLOMEW is director – audit for Ameriprise Financial, Inc., in Edina, Minn.

NANCY KEISER is an associate professor of education at North Central College in Naperville, Ill.

BRIAN RUDE is vice president, external and member relations, at Dairyland Power in La Crosse, Wis.

MARK SCHARFF of St. Louis, Mo., has been participating in the Weston Noble Alumni Choir reunion held on Luther’s campus since 2007.  He also plays in a brass quintet and sings in the St. Louis Symphony Chorus, and in an a cappella vocal jazz octet, Jana Jived.

LISA (ASK) WHANNEL is vice president of First National Bank in Fort Collins, Colo.

JULIE (BRAASTAD) WURTZEL earned a master’s degree in education from Iowa State University. She is director of continuing education at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar.