About Tom and Jan
Tom and Jan are 1961 graduates of Wartburg College. Their years at Wartburg were life changing. This is where they met and married, were set on the path for a life of leadership and service, and where they made life-long friendships, among them: Don Sahling, Wayne Dreier and his wife, Donna, and Larry Collmann -- who was from Tom's hometown of Manson, Iowa, and a close friend already -- and his wife, Fran.
Tom was a business major, on the football team, president of the "W" Club, recognized in Who's Who, and in Castle Singers. The football team won Warburg's first conference championship.
Jan was a music education major, in Castle Singers and later the Wartburg Choir, and named Homecoming Queen in 1961.
Tom and Jan are 1961 graduates of Wartburg College. Their years at Wartburg were life changing. This is where they met and married, were set on the path for a life of leadership and service, and where they made life-long friendships, among them: Don Sahling, Wayne Dreier and his wife, Donna, and Larry Collmann -- who was from Tom's hometown of Manson, Iowa, and a close friend already -- and his wife, Fran.
Tom was a business major, on the football team, president of the "W" Club, recognized in Who's Who, and in Castle Singers. The football team won Warburg's first conference championship.
Jan was a music education major, in Castle Singers and later the Wartburg Choir, and named Homecoming Queen in 1961.
A Message From Tom and Jan's Children
As Tom and Jan's children, we saw firsthand the impact of Wartburg in their lives -- hearing countless wonderful stories, reading (and re-reading) their Wartburg yearbooks, and enjoying visits from their college friends over the years. On July 27th, 2020, our beloved father, Tom, passed away suddenly after beating cancer twice. He was a fighter, a servant leader and an incredible husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend, teammate, entrepreneur, colleague and mentor. He embodied the values of Wartburg. You can learn more about our dad in his online obituary.
His passing inspired us to start this scholarship fund in his memory as well as in honor of our mother so that we may help other students enjoy a life-changing experience at Wartburg.
Sincerely,
Amy and Rod Van Wyngarden (daughter and son)
Wartburg College is dedicated to challenging and nurturing students for lives of leadership and service as a spirited expression of their faith and learning.
Supporting Students at Wartburg College
Recognizing the need for increased scholarship support at Wartburg College, and with great appreciation for the education, experiences, and life values their parents, Tom L. ’61 and Janet C. ’61 Van Wyngarden, embodied during their time on campus, their children, Amy and Rod Van Wyngarden, have established The Tom and Jan Van Wyngarden Scholarship, in celebration of their parents’ legacies and in continuation of their spirit to nurture lives for leadership and service.
Scholarship Criteria
Scholarship recipients must be enrolled as full-time students at Wartburg College majoring in either Business or Music Education with preferences given to students from the Midwest (Iowa, Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, or Missouri).
Thank you for your support of The Tom and Jan Van Wyngarden Scholarship fund. All donations are greatly appreciated. You may Donate Online or Donate by Check.