VIRGINIA BALTER is vice president of education for the Seguin Premier Toastmasters Club.
Back to top Shepherd King Lutheran Church in San Antonio honored THE REV. DR. JOHN BRAULICK with a special morning worship service and an evening banquet on July 20, 2008. The event celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination and wished him well on his retirement.
Back to top After working for 33 years, PENNY BANKS has retired. She was a partner with Gordon, Hughes and Banks LLP in Frisco, Colo.
Back to top RICHARD A. BURMEISTER is in his 41st year of teaching. He spent 29 years in public schools, teaching and in administration. For the past 23 years, he has served as an assistant professor with the University of Alaska School of Education. He said, “This means I get to travel to many cities and villages within the state of Alaska, and as you know Alaska is a little bigger than Texas.” He has been to 90 percent of the rural villages in Alaska.
Back to top BRUCE “PETE” PETERSON and his wife, Becky, live in Hutchinson, Minn., and they have six grandchildren. He works for 3M Company.
Back to top JOHN J. BURNS III began his 21st year selling residential real estate in Beverly Hills, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Calif. He is employed by Sotheby’s International Realty.
LAEL CORDES-PITTS was named Outstanding Fundraising Professional for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Permian Basin Chapter. She was honored on Nov. 13, 2008 for her agency’s submission, the Indiana University School of Philanthropy 2008 Annual Report.
TOM SEDLACEK and wife, Liz, who celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary on Aug. 12, 2008, recently welcomed their first grandchildren. Mary Kathrine Oehlke was born on Jan. 15, 2008 to MOLLY SEDLACEK OEHLKE ’04 and BRANDON OEHLKE ’04; and Peyton Walter Sedlacek James was born Jan 22, 2008 to Krista and JASON JAMES ’00.
Back to top DR. RANDI VON ELLEFSON was elected president-elect of the National Collegiate Choral Organization. He is a professor of music at Oklahoma City University.
Back to top AL SILVA was honored by the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame in San Antonio on Oct. 9, 2008. Silva played basketball at Jefferson High School in San Antonio and at Texas Lutheran.
Back to top BRIAN DAMKROGER is a writer and rancher in northern California.
DR. LYDIA HAMESSLEY was promoted to full professor of music at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. She received the Class of 1962 Outstanding Teaching Award in 2007. She had articles published on the banjo in 19th century America in 19th Century Music and on Peggy Seeger in Ruth Crawford Seeger’s Worlds.
Back to top CHARLES “CHUCK” BARBER of Baton Rouge, La., was promoted to regional credit executive for Chase Auto Finance’s Dealer Commercial Services Division. He is responsible for overseeing credit approval and portfolio monitoring for Chase Auto Finance’s Midwest and Middle Atlantic commercial loan portfolios.
Back to top JENNIFER BAHLMANN married Rick Ballantine on Dec. 1, 2007 in Ames, Iowa.
Back to top DENNIS KEITH KAISER is vice president of architecture and design with Vizhn’z Design Group, LLC. in Houston, a global architectural firm that specializes in environmental planning, design, and delivery solutions for buildings and communities. Kaiser has a graduate degree in architecture from Texas Tech and over 20 years of architecture management experience.
DR. JANICE VLASAK WEINMAN opened Seguin Smiles, a new general and cosmetic dental practice.
Back to top RALPH DUNN with Blue Mesa Computer Systems has released free restaurant point of sale software. He received an honorable discharge from the Texas State Guard.
Back to top WESLEY and NATALIE ASHNER RAABE relocated to Kent, Ohio where Wesley joined the English department at Kent State University as an assistant professor of textual editing and American Literature. The Raabes have two children.
JAMAL SAID and Vanessa Richey married Sept. 27, 2008. They live in San Antonio.
Back to top MARC HANDER was installed as pastor of evangelism and education at Advent Lutheran Church in Arlington on Sept. 14, 2008. He, his wife Jerilyn, and children Gabriel, Selah, and Levi are enjoying their new home in South Arlington/North Mansfield.
Back to top DEBIE HANNA CONE announces the birth of Freeman Carter Cone, born Sept. 12, 2007. He was welcomed home by big brother, Mason. Debie is a first grade teacher at Wiederstein Elementary in Cibolo.
Peter and STEPHANIE BRUNS DIERS announce the birth of Jack Garret Diers, Feb. 5, 2008. He was welcomed by sister Annaliesa. The family lives in New Albany, Ohio.
WHITNEY THURMAN-CARGILL’s daughter, Savannah Jewell Cargill, was born on Nov. 5, 2007. The Cargill family lives in Wimberley.
Back to top REV. STEVE COX is the new pastor at St. Paul Lutheran of Rehburg. He lives in Washington County with his wife, Rebecca, and daughter, Elisia.
BRIAN ROBERTS and wife, Angie, adopted Gabriel William from Guatemala. Gabriel was born Aug. 27, 2007. Brian and Angie brought him home on May 1, 2008.
Back to top CHRIS ELLEY won an Emmy for his documentary film “Ghost Town: 24 Hours in Terlingua.” The film was nominated for Best Documentary and Best Editing in the Lone Star Region of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. “Ghost Town” is a documentary profile of the offbeat settlement of Terlingua, Texas, in the state’s Big Bend region and was selected as “Best Documentary” at multiple film festivals across the United States, including last year’s edition of the Seguin Film Festival where it won the coveted Golden Pecan Award. The film is set to be distributed in 2009. Elley is joined on the Emmy ticket by his wife Cile Spelce Elley. The couple lives in Austin and work throughout Texas and the United States with their production company Electro-Fish Media. Currently, Electro-Fish Media is shooting two longterm documentary films, one of which looks at today’s country music from the inside out and is told around the rising career of Texas-favorite The Randy Rogers Band.
Shelley and JONATHAN POZZI announce the birth of their first child, Michael Scott Pozzi, born July 23, 2008, in Bryan.
CASEY WALTHER is a consultant with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). His consultancy for UNESCO in its Iraq offices is to devise a strategy for the organization’s support to the Iraq government in the areas of education, water resources management, protection of cultural sites, and the security of journalists.
Back to top AMBER MILLS BAUMANN completed her master’s degree in library and information science at the University of Houston Clear Lake.
ERIN ADAMS DEASON and her husband, Andy, announce the birth of the their second daughter, Kinsey Adason, on May 19, 2008.
SAM EHRLICH is now the senior associate to the president at TLU. He will work with church relations and assist with donor and constituent care.
JESS and NATALIE SHAFER GINGRICH, and son, Zachary, welcomed Emery Claire on Sept. 3, 2008. They reside in San Antonio.
Back to top MARK DURFEE was selected to participate in the Teaching American History Grant through Education Service Center-Region 12, Texas A&M and Baylor University. He teaches fifth grade U.S. history at Tyler Elementary School in Belton and is a graduate student at Tarleton State University in the New Century Educational Leadership Program, working on principal certification and a master’s degree in educational leadership. He has an MBA from St. Mary’s.
CATHERINE MASTERSON HARVEY was married to Dr. Jay Harvey in 2004, and their daughter, Genevieve, was born in 2006. The family resides in Auburn, Ala.
Back to top DR. JOSEPH BAUERKEMPER completed his doctorate in American studies at the University of Minnesota and was awarded a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Illinois. He and his wife, Kristen, live in Urbana, Ill. where Joseph is crafting a scholarly book on nationhood, history, and American Indian literatures.
Back to top AMBER MONTGOMERY KRAFT and her husband, Kent, have relocated to West Virginia. Amber is the education specialist at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and Kent teaches algebra and geometry at Martinsburg High School.
CHRIS and ANDREA FRANZEN OWEN announce the birth of their son, Hayden Clyde Owen, born Jan. 12, 2008.
ANDREA ROSKE-METCALFE and her husband, Luke, have joined ELCA Global Mission for a 4-year term of service in Mexico. Andrea will coordinate the Young Adults in Global Mission program in Cuernavaca, and Luke will coordinate immersion trips through the Lutheran Center in Mexico City.
Back to top B.J. PYRC was named Master Teacher of 2008. This is the highest honor given to a teacher at St. Mary’s Hall, a private school in San Antonio. B.J. teaches middle school art.
WALTER ALAN WIEDERHOLD is now the sports editor at the Seguin Gazette Enterprise. He lives in Seguin.
Back to top DEIDRE “DEE” CASEY earned her master’s degree in professional counseling from Texas State University in May 2008.
JOHN DOUGLASS GROUNDS was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Army on Sept. 11, 2008.
RACHEL PRICE married Cory Wegner, Oct. 27, 2007, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Universal City. The couple now resides in Selma.
CASANDRA SCHAUER married Matthew Matheson on Aug. 5, 2008 at Frederick Evangelical Lutheran Church in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands. REV. DONALD TAYLER ’66 officiated the ceremony. The couple resides in Beeville.
Kirk and JENNIFER SAFARIK WEBSTER of Houston announce the birth of their daughter, Abigail Grace, on May 28, 2008.
Back to top LEANDRO GONZALES married Jessica Garza on July 19, 2008 in San Antonio.
TRAVIS HAWKINS is the technical director for the WPEC 12 News in West Palm Beach, Fla.
BECKY JONES is the training and resource manager with Phoenix Teaching Fellows. She resides in Phoenix, Ariz.
KATIE SHUPE received a Master of Music degree from Texas State University. She has begun work toward a Ph.D. in music composition at Texas Tech University.
Back to top MEGAN MINUS is a seventh grade reading and language arts teacher in San Antonio where she lives with her daughter, Ryan Grace.
The Radio and Television News Directors Assocation annouced that WLOX News in Biloxi, Miss. and reporter KELI RABON received a regional Edward R. Murrow Award, presented for an investigative report, “Home Sweet Meth Home.” Rabon’s story, which focused on the sale of houses used as meth labs without disclosure to the buyer, also won an award from the Associated Press and received recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists for significant public service reporting.
CHRYSTINE ROBBINS married Brett Wilder on the island of Antigua on July 5, 2008.
TEO SEGER and Beth Lohse were married Aug. 23, 2008 at Faith Lutheran Church in Beeville. Groomsmen included BRAD LAMBERT, ERIC JASTRAM, and current student Andrew Jastram. LAURA YOUNG ‘07 was the maid of honor. Teo is a third year law student at the University of Texas, and Beth is a registered nurse in labor and delivery at St. David’s North in Austin.
AMANDA RODRIGUEZ YBARRA and husband, Joe Michael, announce the birth of their daughter, Michaela Linnae, on Aug. 8, 2007.
Back to top M’CHEYL LYNN HERRERA is a fourth grade teacher at Patlan Elementary in Seguin.
ALLISON SEAMS and MARCUS ALSUP were married May 24, 2008. The couple lives in Austin where Marcus works for Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Allison is working on her teaching certification at Texas State.
Back to top 1930s
JOHN P. CHRISTENSON ’38 passed away Aug. 16, 2008. He taught English and journalism for 33 years at Contra Costa College in California.
FURMAN GRIMM ’39 passed away June 25, 2008 in a Temple Hospital.
RUTH “FIFI” MARIE KRAUSHAAR KREZDORN ’31, of Austin, died Aug. 22, 2008. She was active in the Women’s Symphony League, Junior Helping Hand, a 50-year member of the UT Ladies Club, and a recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for her service to Rotary.
AWALT LANDGRAF ’35 passed away July 10, 2008.
RUTH GROMATZKY MAHLER ’39 died Aug. 10, 2008. Mahler was a public school educator in Port Arthur, Huntsville and San Angelo. R.A. OBENHAUS ’39 of Austin died Jan. 20, 2006.
DR. WERNER PFLUGER ’36 died Sept. 20, 2008 in Austin. He first became a pharmacist, then an orthodontist, serving the children of the Austin area for more than 30 years.
INEZ WENZEL RAMSAY ’32 died in Dallas on Aug. 4, 2008. An innovative educator for over 40 years, she was honored by the International Association of Bilingual Educators for being the first bilingual teacher in America.
LOUISE TEGGEMANN WOLTERS ’32 of Bradbury, Calif. passed away on Aug. 1, 2008. She was a member of St. Edmunds Episcopal Church and the Altar Guild for over 40 years. She was active with the American Red Cross and worked for Vroman’s Bookstore.
1940s
GEORGE BAUR ’42 passed away Oct. 12, 2008. After attending TLU, he received a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas. He was president of Hughes Tool Division and served as state chairman of the Texas Association of Business and as chairman of the Board of Texas State Technical College.
WILLIAM T. CARTER ’42 of Centennial, Colo. passed away.
PAUL HUDSON ’40 died Aug. 5, 2008 in New Braunfels. He was a CPA in Houston for many years and served as the organist at Salem Lutheran Church. He retired to New Braunfels where he was a docent at New Braunfels’ furniture museum.
GEORGE F. KLEIN ’42 passed away Sept. 12, 2008. He owned and operated Klein Hardware in Yorktown, served as mayor, managed the family ranch, and served on committees at St. Paul Lutheran Church.
ELMER LUCKENBACH ’47 died Oct. 5, 2008 in a New Braunfels hospital. He was the administrator of two Lutheran nursing homes for 20 years. During this time he received the Award of Honor and life membership by the Texas Association of Homes for the Aging. He had worked in the financial department at TLU and served on the Alumni Board.
1950s
PAUL F. GILLILAND, M.D. ’52, died Aug. 27, 2008 in Temple. He attended medical school at UTMB. After serving 13 years in the United States Air Force and the United States Army, he joined the staff at Scott and White Hospital where he became chief of the Division of Endocrinology and was a professor of medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
STEPHEN E. SCHROEDER ’53 passed away March 25, 2008.
1980s
TAJ OLIVER BROWN ’86 passed away Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008 in Cedar Park after a long battle with cancer. Several articles that she wrote about her life experiences were published. She was a member of Hill Country Bible Church Northwest and was involved in her children’s schools, The Woman’s Adventure Race, and many outdoor activities.
THOMAS HUNT WILLIAMS ’87 of McKinney passed away Sept. 8, 2008. He was a real estate review analyst.
1990s
CHARLES ANDREW “ANDY” BRIEDEN ’96 passed away on Sept. 30, 2008. He was the former owner of Smokin’ Charlies and Oasis Tan and Body Salon in Seguin.
Others
DR. JACK P. ALDRIDGE III, 69, died Aug. 9, 2008, at his farm near New Berlin. From 1997-2005, he taught computer science and physics at TLU.
HERMAN GASKAMP, 90, died on Oct. 8, 2008. He was a member of the Texas Lutheran Board of Regents for 10 years.
MELBA KATT passed away Oct. 16, 2008. She was the wife of the late Raymond Katt, longtime TLU baseball coach for whom Katt-Isbel Field is named.
DR. RUSKIN C. NORMAN of San Antonio passed away Sept. 19, 2008 at the age of 89. He was the husband of Karen Norman, chair of the Texas Lutheran University Board of Regents.
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