Alfred and Velma Buls: Two of Concordia Nebraska’s oldest living alumni

Alfred Martin Buls ’47 met his wife Velma Arlene Sosinski Buls ’47 at Concordia University, Nebraska. They have been happily married for 77 years.  

Two of the university’s oldest living alumni, Alfred is 98 and Velma is 97. They have three children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

Alfred is currently in home hospice Mercy Ridge Retirement Community in Maryland where he lives with Velma. 

Alfred’s father Herman, brother Harold, and five of his sisters attended the university, so he said attending Concordia Nebraska was an easy decision for him.   

“I was born in Garland, Nebraska, and my father went to Concordia Teachers College and taught for some years, then had to retire because he became totally deaf,” he said. “My five sisters and brother attended Concordia.” 

Alfred has a bachelor of arts in education from the university as well as a master of theology from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri as well as a master of divinity from Christ Seminary - Seminex. 

Velma attended Concordia Nebraska for two years and left when Alfred graduated so the two could get married. She obtained a teaching certificate and taught alongside him in Athens, Winfield and St. Louis. She later completed her bachelor of arts in library science at Washington University in St. Louis.

Alfred’s career took him from the classroom to the pulpit and beyond. He taught in Athens, Wisconsin, and at St. John’s in Winfield, Kansas. Following his time at seminary, he served in Kinston, North Carolina; Nashville, Illinois, and Granite City, Illinois. From 1959 to 1967 he served as president of the Southern Illinois District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, then served at Bethel Lutheran Church in St. Louis. 

“Now in home hospice, I spend as much time holding hands with my wife Velma as possible,” he said. “I am surrounded by family.” 

Concordia Nebraska’s alumni family includes more than 23,000 people across the globe. These servant leaders have touched the lives of thousands in their classrooms, offices, businesses, congregations and communities. Learn more about Concordia Nebraska at cune.edu.