Waldorf Foundation

Philip Peterson ’54 dies

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:35:30 +0000

Phil Peterson of Story City, IA died November 23, 2011 following a very brief illness. Phil served in the Army from 1956-1958, serving 1 1/2 years in Germany. After returning from the Army, Phil was a hog buyer for 38 years; 35 of those years as a buyer for Farmland Foods. He retired from Farmland in 1996.

Phil married Shirley Ann Peterson in 1955 and together they had three children. Phil loved driving, athletics, and spending time with his grandkids. He continued driving semis and delivering cars during his retirement years.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley, three children, 16 grandchildren and one sister.

Victoria Storm ’69 dies

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:22:55 +0000

Victoria Storm died June 26, 2010. She had been living in Omaha, NE.

Markina Cornell Bemis ’04 update

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:15:51 +0000

Markina Cornell married Andrew Bemis from Belle Plaine, MN on August 20, 2011, and joined Haworth Marketing and Media in Minneapolis as a broadcast assistant in December of 2011. Andrew currently works at Twin Cities Harley Davidson in Lakeville, MN. The couple resides in Burnsville, MN.

Astrid Aasheim Carlson ’46 dies

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:45:39 +0000

Astrid Aasheim Carlson died March 13, 2012. After graduating from Waldorf, Astrid married Roy Carlson in August of 1946. In 1951, the couple moved to Nora Springs, IA, where she became an active member of her church for many decades. Astrid enjoyed spending time with her family — especially her grandchildren. For 67 years, she also kept in touch with her Waldorf classmates via “Round Robin” correspondence.

She also enjoyed reading, quilting, sewing, cooking, flowers and writing poetry (one publication in the National Library of Poetry). Astrid valued her Norwegian traditions and foods and proudly shared them with her family.

Survivors include three daughters, one son, ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and two brothers — Les Aasheim ’57 and Harlan Aasheim ’54.

Robert “Bob” Hanson dies

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:30:45 +0000

Bob Hanson, originally of Jacksonville, Ill., died Feb. 25, 2012 at Helena’s Residential home in St. Charles, Ill. Following Waldorf, Bob continued his education at Eastern Illinois University. He worked for the Illinois Department of Corrections for 28 years, with 10 years in Pontiac and 18 years in Jacksonville. He was an active member of First Christian Church in Jacksonville and was known for his incredible sense of humor, contagious laugh, passion for golf and his love and dedication to his family.

Survivors include one son, two daughters, three granchildren, and his mother.

Dean Downer ’76 update

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:22:39 +0000

Dean Downer lost his wife, Kathy Sandeen Downer ’76, to cancer on July 8, 2011, and is son, Nate, in a car accident in June of 2002. His daughter, Ali, has her own day care and plays in three power volleyball leagues. Dean has taught shop and coached football for the past 34 years. Dean can be reached at ddowner@netins.net or 408 Pine Street, Massena, IA 50853.

Kathy Sandeen Downer ’76 dies

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:16:00 +0000

Kathy Sandeen Downer died July 8, 2011 at the Cass County Hospice Center in Atlantic, IA. Following Waldorf, Kathy attended Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, IA and graduated with an education degree in 1978. She furthered her education at Northwest Missouri State in Maryville receiving an endorsement in special education.

Kathy married Dean Downer ’76 in 1978. They lived in Newell, IA until 1981 when they moved to Massena, IA in 1981. It was there that they raised their two children, Nathan and Alison. Kathy taught for 15 years at C & M Community Schools in Massena and Anita Community School.

Kathy was a top-notch athlete in her youth and even coached softball and track. She was a supportive coach’s wife and sports mom to her children and area children as well. Kathy also had a love and talent for quilting that grew over the years. Love for her family, friends and community were a testament to her faith.

Survivors include her husband, Dean, daughter, mother, and brother.

Marcella Trettin Walk ’38 dies

gilbertson.rita — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:10:46 +0000

Marcella Trettin Walker died Feb. 27, in Osage, IA. Following Waldorf, Marcella worked at Sears then Standard Oil. She went on to work as secretary for the Mason City superintendent of schools. On Jan. 20, 1944, she enlisted in the WAVES. Her training was in New York City, followed by schooling in Cedar Falls, IA. Marcella was assigned to an IBM unit in Washington, DC, where she kept track of all the Navy planes around the world.

She eloped and married to Raymond Walk, QM3C, on March 12, 1945 in Providence, RI. After the war, they returned to Mason City where they were employed. Marcella and Ray were approached by a local banker to purchase Christian Bros. General Store in Grafton, IA. She was in business for 43 years, operating the The Corner Store and later renamed Walk’s Market.

Marcella looked foward to spring every year and enjoyed transplanting plants like geraniums. She was a lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton, IA.

Survivors include one son and one daughter.

Mark Mattes ’80 publishes two books

gilbertson.rita — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 20:07:20 +0000

Rev. Mark Mattes ’80 recently had two books translated and published – ”Cross and Resurrection: God’s Wonder and Mystery,” published by Fortress, and “Johann Hamann: A Contemporary Dissent,” published by Eerdmans.

Former Regent, Dr. Larry Ebbers, a legacy at ISU

gilbertson.rita — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:43:34 +0000

Dr. Larry Ebbers is a university professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Iowa State University and has been an asset to the department for decades. He has served nationally on college and university advisory boards, the editorial boards of nationally ranked refereed journals, and multiple strategic planning committees. Through his work as co-director of the Community College Leadership Program and director of the Community College Leadership Consortium he has played a major role in developing and promoting Iowa’s community college system.

Dr. Ebbers is the top producer of PhDs at Iowa State, with more than 190 doctoral committee chairmanships and co-chairmanships. He has also been key in developing alumni networking opportunities for ISU grads.

He has served on many committees at the university and received numerous prestigious awards — among them are the ISU’s Presidential Service Award, the Ames NAACP’s “Making a Difference” Award, and the ISU Outstanding Achievement Award for Professional Practice and Outreach. He was also a Fulbright Scholar in Germany.

Dr. Ebbers served on the Waldorf College Board of Regents from 1999 – 2009.