Fall 2014
Dear Classmate,
It has been a remarkable fall in my part of the world. The weather has been pleasant and the colors have been spectacular. Homecoming at Luther took full advantage of the season’s beauty. There was excitement in the air surrounding the inauguration of the new president, Dr. Paula J. Carlson, and a host of activities and celebrations. Mark your calendars for October 16-18, 2015, as we celebrate our 35th class reunion during Homecoming next fall!
Dr. Paula Carlson is the 10th president of Luther College. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College, where she served as vice president for mission. Dr. Carlson also held positions as vice president and liaison to the St. Olaf College Board of Regents, director of the Wendt Center for Character Education, and associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Dubuque. Her husband, the Reverend Dr. Thomas Schattauer, is professor of liturgics and dean of the chapel at Wartburg Theological Seminary. They have two children, Peter Schattauer and Anna (Schattauer) Paille.
This fall a diverse group of 595 new students enrolled at Luther. Their list of accomplishments is extensive, and they will be a great addition to the Luther tradition. Sixty of the new students are children of alumni. Recruiting efforts are being expanded in the four-state region, which the majority of students call home, and into new areas of focus, including California, Colorado, and Missouri. Alumni are encouraged to refer prospective students to Luther.
We can support Luther as it continues to meet the needs of students. Making contributions to the Annual Fund, endowment funds, or planned gifts are some of the ways to support the college. Alumni giving is critical to the sustainability of the school, and no gift is too small. Our class of 1980 ranked #1 for total gifts to the Annual Fund in calendar year 2013. Thank you to all who contributed!
Soli Deo Gloria!
Beth (Eide) Bird
1980 Class Agent
[email protected]
P.S. If you’re interested in serving on our 35th reunion committee, you can volunteer by emailing [email protected]. Thanks!
Your gift. Every year. Put to work, right away, where it is needed most.
Each year over 9,000 alumni, parents, and friends support the Annual Fund with gifts from $5 to $75,000. Strong support from alumni helps Luther secure additional funds from foundations and corporations, and your gift each year helps us to reach our goal of 27% alumni giving. Here’s how your class is doing so far this year:
CLASS OF 1980 TOTAL GIVING: $25,655.83 FROM 15.83% OF THE CLASS*
Have you made your 2014 gift to Luther? Only 47 more gifts are needed to reach 27% for your class. Please visit www.givenow.luther.edu to make your gift today. Thank you!
Please note: Your Spring 2015 class agent letter will include a listing of your classmates who gave to Luther during 2014. Be sure to make your gift before December 31 to be included.
*as of October 1, 2014
Class Notes
BILL CRIST is vice president of Figi’s Integration at Ascena Retail Group in Marshfield, Wis.
TERRY (LARSON) KUNTZ owns Papa Murphy’s Pizza in Oskaloosa and Pella, Iowa.
JIM LaBELLE is patron services manager for the Bel Canto Chorus in Milwaukee, and a weekly guest on the “Philcast” with Phil Cianciola on WHBY Radio in Appleton, Wis.
BARB (PERRY) LUTZ is director of life underwriting at CUNA Mutual Life Insurance Company in Waverly, Iowa.
ESTHER MENN is dean and vice president for academic affairs and the Ralph W. and Marilyn R. Klein professor of Old Testament at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
ELISE (BARTON) and PAUL MULLEN ‘79 live in Eden Prairie, Minn. Elise is an intake specialist for CIGNA Behavioral Health. Paul works in construction sales for Les Jones Roofing, Inc.
LISA (ENGELHART) O’BRIEN retired as a finance manager from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after twenty-seven years of service.
GREG ORWOLL is executive director of DuRide in Dubuque, Iowa.
JULIE SERRA is a senior clinical research associate at Serra Clinical Consulting, LLC, in Portland, Ore.
KRIS (ELFSTROM) TIERNAN is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Medical Associates and on the nursing faculty at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa.
CAROL G. (THOMPSON) VANCE earned a doctor of physical therapy and rehabilitation science degree from the University of Iowa. She teaches in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Department at the University of Iowa. She is also the TENS coordinator for NIH funded multicenter trial investigating the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
Obituary
ERIC RANUM of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, died Nov. 10, 2012, at age 55. Born in Newport, Wash., to SYLVIA (ALMLIE) ’53 and PAUL RANUM ’52, he and his family moved to Laurel, Mont., when he was four years old and to Alexandria, Minn., where he started 6th grade. In 1976 Eric graduated from Jefferson Senior High School, and he followed the strong, family tradition to attend Luther, graduating in 1980. In 1986 he graduated from Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., and was ordained into the American Lutheran Church in June 1987. Eric obtained his pilot's license while still in high school and his Coast Guard Captain's license in 1985. He loved the ocean and many of his favorite times were spent there – running Bible Camp on the Christian for several years and cruise ships in the San Juans, while waiting for his first congregational call. The months spent serving a church in Petersburg, Alaska, furthered his love of deep-sea fishing. Eric also enjoyed volleyball, skiing, watching football and baseball, and being with his family. He served parishes in Petersburg, Alaska; Glascow, Mont.; Moscow, Idaho; and Ferndale, Wash. He was thrilled to receive the call to Coeur d'Alene in 1998, bringing him closer to his family's beloved cabin at Priest Lake. Eric married his wife, MaryBeth, in 1991, and their sons, Caleb and Joshua, were born in 1995 and 1998. In addition to Marybeth, Caleb, and Joshua, Eric is survived by his sisters, HEIDI (RANUM) JOHNSON ’83 (Jerry), GRETCHEN (RANUM) POFFENBERGER ’84 (Dan), and INGRID RANUM ’89 (Mark), and two nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Sylvia, and an infant brother, Marc.
Nominate Alumni for Service and Athletic Hall of Fame Awards
Luther is seeking nominations for Distinguished Service Awards and Athletic Hall of Fame induction. Please consider the following criteria when nominating individuals for these honors.
Distinguished Service Award
Criteria to consider for DSA candidates include meritorious service to society in areas such as education, government, the arts, business, church, labor, industry, agriculture, research, medicine, and community affairs; loyalty and service to Luther; fidelity to the ideals of Luther; and timeliness of the award. Alumni recipients should have graduated at least 20 years ago. Luther is currently seeking nominations from classes ending in a 0 or 5, for the fall of 2015.
Athletic Hall of Fame
Individuals nominated for the Athletic Hall of Fame must have been outstanding athletes or coaches at Luther and have demonstrated strong contributions to family, community, and career. Nominees may be living or deceased. Additional factors, such as service to Luther and service to athletics after graduation, will also be considered. Recipients should have graduated from college at least 10 years ago. Luther is seeking nominations from classes ending in a 0 or 5, for the fall of 2015.
To submit nominations
Send DSA nominations with as much supporting documentation as possible to the Office of the President, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101; email [email protected], phone 563.387.1001.
Please submit Athletic Hall of Fame nominations with supporting documentation to Dave Blanchard, sports information director, Luther College, 700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 52101; email [email protected], phone 563.387.1586.
Are you an eligible Thrivent Financial member with Choice Dollars® to direct?
Do you know you can direct those dollars to Luther College? You can have an impact of current and future students with the click of a mouse (or a quick phone call)!
Online:
1. Visit Thrivent.com/thriventchoice.
2. Scroll down and select the “Get Started” button in the “How Do I Direct My Designated Choice Dollars” box. Log in and enter your user ID and password. (If you haven’t yet registered on Thrivent.com, click on “register” to do so.)
3. Find the number of Choice Dollars available to direct on the right side of the screen.
4. Search the catalog of organizations to find Luther College.
5. Click on “Direct Now” to direct designated Choice Dollars.
By phone:
1. Call 800-847-4836 and when prompted, say “Thrivent Choice.”
2. Press 1 to direct Choice Dollars or 2 to hear Thrivent Choice program terms
and conditions. (If prompted, say or enter your phone number and date of birth.)
3. A representative will work with you to direct Choice Dollars.
