Willmar High School Alumni
Willmar, Minnesota (MN)
Recent Members
| Chris Engstrom | 2007 |
| Dennis Jacobson | 1974 |
| Gregory A Gangle Gregory A Gangle | 1980 |
| Joe Garza | 2006 |
| Natasha Samuel | 2006 |
| Nathan Schueller | 1995 |
| Tim Bernard | 1974 |
| Tim Underland | 1979 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Willmar High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Cardinals lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
Andrew Lang
Class of 1983
National Guard, 4 Years
Black Hawk Pilot Ist leutenant currently seving in Iraq
Class of 1983
National Guard, 4 Years
Black Hawk Pilot Ist leutenant currently seving in Iraq
Anthony Pirkl
Class of 1984
Navy, 6 Years
Meteorologist onboard the USS Mt. Whitney
Class of 1984
Navy, 6 Years
Meteorologist onboard the USS Mt. Whitney
Brent Bemis
Class of 2006
National Guard, 4 Years
Brent is a Medic in the Army National Guard . He served 1 tour in Kuwait traveling on convoy missions. he is presently part of the 151 F.A.
Class of 2006
National Guard, 4 Years
Brent is a Medic in the Army National Guard . He served 1 tour in Kuwait traveling on convoy missions. he is presently part of the 151 F.A.
Charles Egerstrom
Class of 1997
Army, 6 Years
Currently a SGT serving on active duy as a medic. Served two tours in iraq and was deployed in support of hurricane katrina.
Class of 1997
Army, 6 Years
Currently a SGT serving on active duy as a medic. Served two tours in iraq and was deployed in support of hurricane katrina.
Danny G. Holwerda
Class of 1978
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 27-years in the U.S. Air Force. Now residing in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Class of 1978
Air Force, 20+ Years
Served 27-years in the U.S. Air Force. Now residing in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Danny G. Holwerda (Essendrup)
Class of 1978
Air Force, 20+ Years
Had the privilege and honor of wearing our nations uniform for 27-years. I'm indebted to our Air Force for all it allowed me to do and all it entrusted in me. I went in thinking I would serve 4-years, but was allowed stay much longer. The people I met, places I served, and mission's supported were remarkable.
Class of 1978
Air Force, 20+ Years
Had the privilege and honor of wearing our nations uniform for 27-years. I'm indebted to our Air Force for all it allowed me to do and all it entrusted in me. I went in thinking I would serve 4-years, but was allowed stay much longer. The people I met, places I served, and mission's supported were remarkable.
David Zachman
Class of 1985
Air Force, 20+ Years
Air Force Pilot. 3 Air medals, Aerial Achievement medal, and over 200 hours of combat flying time. Served in Operation Provide Promise, Provide Relief, Noble Eagle, Joint Forge, Iraqi Freedom, and many other theater and spec ops operations.
Class of 1985
Air Force, 20+ Years
Air Force Pilot. 3 Air medals, Aerial Achievement medal, and over 200 hours of combat flying time. Served in Operation Provide Promise, Provide Relief, Noble Eagle, Joint Forge, Iraqi Freedom, and many other theater and spec ops operations.
Jon M. Newton
Class of 1977
Army, 21 Years
Military Intelligence Corps, (not in order) Germany strategic assignments (8 years): USA Field Station Berlin, USA Field Station Augsburg, USA Field Station Bad Aibling; CONUS tactical assignments: (TX) USA Field Station San Antonio, (Ft. Lewis WA) 109th MI Bn (Platoon Sergeant), 14th MI Bn (Bn Training NCO, 1 company as First Sergeant), 501st MI Bn (3 companies as First Sergeant) 201st MI Bde (Brigade Training NCO), DLIFLC (Presidio of Monterey, SA) Korean Language School (Honor Graduate); Korea strategic assignments: 3rd MI Bn (Pyeong-Taek), 502nd MI Bn (HHD First Sergeant). Languages: German, Korean. Specialties: Non-Morse Intercept, Counter-Intelligence (CI), Interrogation Prisoner of War (IPW), Intelligence Analyst (Knowlton Award). Highest Rank: E-8 First Sergeant. Highest Position: Command Sergeant Major. Command Positions: 3 Platoons, 5 companies, 1 Battalion. Awards: Meritorious Service Medal (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal. Army Commendation Medal (6), Army Achievement Medal (11), Berlin Army of Occupation Medal. Related "hobbies": Skydiving (285 jumps), SCUBA (NAUI Instructor, NITROX Instructor), Mountaineering (5 peaks >14,000'). Retired from active duty 31 Jan 1999.
Class of 1977
Army, 21 Years
Military Intelligence Corps, (not in order) Germany strategic assignments (8 years): USA Field Station Berlin, USA Field Station Augsburg, USA Field Station Bad Aibling; CONUS tactical assignments: (TX) USA Field Station San Antonio, (Ft. Lewis WA) 109th MI Bn (Platoon Sergeant), 14th MI Bn (Bn Training NCO, 1 company as First Sergeant), 501st MI Bn (3 companies as First Sergeant) 201st MI Bde (Brigade Training NCO), DLIFLC (Presidio of Monterey, SA) Korean Language School (Honor Graduate); Korea strategic assignments: 3rd MI Bn (Pyeong-Taek), 502nd MI Bn (HHD First Sergeant). Languages: German, Korean. Specialties: Non-Morse Intercept, Counter-Intelligence (CI), Interrogation Prisoner of War (IPW), Intelligence Analyst (Knowlton Award). Highest Rank: E-8 First Sergeant. Highest Position: Command Sergeant Major. Command Positions: 3 Platoons, 5 companies, 1 Battalion. Awards: Meritorious Service Medal (3), Joint Service Commendation Medal. Army Commendation Medal (6), Army Achievement Medal (11), Berlin Army of Occupation Medal. Related "hobbies": Skydiving (285 jumps), SCUBA (NAUI Instructor, NITROX Instructor), Mountaineering (5 peaks >14,000'). Retired from active duty 31 Jan 1999.
Kyle Lenz
Class of 2006
National Guard, 7 Years
Served as a Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Operator at the 682d FSC in Willmar, MN
Served as a Search and Extraction Team Member for the MN CERF Team under 682d EN BN
Class of 2006
National Guard, 7 Years
Served as a Heavy Wheeled Vehicle Operator at the 682d FSC in Willmar, MN
Served as a Search and Extraction Team Member for the MN CERF Team under 682d EN BN
Lawrence T. Collins
Class of 1957
Marine Corps, 3 Years
1st Force Recon Company
First Marine Division
Class of 1957
Marine Corps, 3 Years
1st Force Recon Company
First Marine Division
Mitch Haukos
Class of 1984
National Guard, 20+ Years
He served two tours ,one in Kuwait & one in Iraq he is a 1st Sargent and is a member of headquarters battalion in Montevideo.
Class of 1984
National Guard, 20+ Years
He served two tours ,one in Kuwait & one in Iraq he is a 1st Sargent and is a member of headquarters battalion in Montevideo.
Peter Rampaart
Class of 1999
Army, 8 Years
Peter is currently serving in Iraq and has been there since March 2005. Thank you Peter!
Class of 1999
Army, 8 Years
Peter is currently serving in Iraq and has been there since March 2005. Thank you Peter!
Roy Robert Friehl
Class of 1965
Air Force, 4 Years
Sgt, Loadmaster Served in Viet Nam stationed at Ton Sun Nut and Bien Hoa. Passed away in June of 1997 Missed deeply by sister Evelyn M. Friehl class of 1964.
Class of 1965
Air Force, 4 Years
Sgt, Loadmaster Served in Viet Nam stationed at Ton Sun Nut and Bien Hoa. Passed away in June of 1997 Missed deeply by sister Evelyn M. Friehl class of 1964.
Sgt. Kyle R. Miller
Class of 2004
Army, 3 Years
Kyle joined the Army National Guard in 2003 where he received training as a Communications Specialist. Kyle was killed in Iraq on June 29. Thank You Kyle!! **==
Class of 2004
Army, 3 Years
Kyle joined the Army National Guard in 2003 where he received training as a Communications Specialist. Kyle was killed in Iraq on June 29. Thank You Kyle!! **==
Tim Gravgaard
Class of 1979
Navy, 20+ Years
Served from August 1980 until March 2009.
Class of 1979
Navy, 20+ Years
Served from August 1980 until March 2009.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Willmar High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Cardinals.
School News
basketball of 83
Does anyone have photoes of the team that went to State in 1983?
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Our Willmar High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Willmar High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Willmar are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!