The Duesenberg family (from left to right) Brent '71, Mildred '45, Cheryl '09, Brian, Jan (Schur '73), Carrie, and Keith '02

Three generations of the Duesenberg family have attended Valparaiso University. Their time at Valpo left them with lasting memories of its attentive faculty, long-standing friendships, and relationships with people across the country.

Brent Duesenberg ’71 selected Valpo because both his parents went there — his mother, Mildred ’45, lives in Fort Worth, Texas, while his father Carl, who died several years ago, went on to graduate from the University of Chicago. Many other family members also attended Valpo.

“I think it’s the quality of the education there, the quality of the professors, and the commitment they had to students’ lives,” said Brent, who lives in St. Louis with his wife, Jan (Schur ’73).

Brent, who majored in psychology and received a finance degree at the University of Missouri, said his time at Valpo left a lasting impression.

“The professors I had were very inspirational in some of the things I did,” said Brent, who was an investment banker for 25 years.

Jan’s pastor at her church in Webster, Mass., encouraged her to attend Valpo. She majored in education, later teaching in the public and Lutheran schools in St. Louis.

“I went [to Valpo] because it was a Lutheran university and it had a great reputation,” she said. “I just found Valpo to be a wonderful, caring place.”

Brent and Jan have continued their involvement with Valpo over the years. Brent serves on the Athletics Task Force; the two were Parent Council co-chairs; and Jan is in her third year on the Guild Board of Directors. Jan also is active in the Valpo Admission Network.

“It’s funny that no matter where you go, there’s someone from Valpo,” Jan said. “It’s just easy to feel connected with Valpo.”

Those connections have continued for a third generation. Two of Jan and Brent’s three children graduated from Valpo. Cheryl ’09 is a nurse at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, working on the leukemia/lymphoma floor. While at Valpo, Cheryl joined Gamma Phi Beta, the same sorority Jan was in.

Keith ’02 majored in business and is now a financial education specialist at the headquarters for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in St. Louis. His parents spoke fondly of Valpo when Keith was younger.

He, too, finds himself linking with other Valpo graduates.

“It’s amazing how many people I run into, not just in St. Louis but across the country,” Keith said. “A natural conversation comes forth from that shared experience.”

Keith’s wife, Carrie, is expecting the couple’s first child. Will a fourth generation of the Duesenberg family attend Valpo? Time will tell.

If you know a student who you believe is a good fit for Valparaiso University, please encourage them to apply for admission at www.valpo.edu/admissions/apply