Bill and Judith Preuss: “We strongly believe in Concordia’s mission”

Judith Carol (Walter) Preuss ’60 found her way to Concordia University, Nebraska through her cousin, Edgar Opel, who was attending the university at the time Preuss was looking at colleges.  

“Ed and I talked about colleges at our family reunion, and he convinced me that Concordia Nebraska was the place to attend,” she said. “So I applied and was accepted.” 

Preuss has bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in reading from Concordia Nebraska. She also has a master’s degree in special education and a Ph.D. in administration, curriculum and instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

She said her favorite thing about her time at Concordia Nebraska was the relationships she built with her classmates and her instructors. 

“[My instructors] demonstrated an interest in each student by listening,” she explained. “I still remember Dr. Hellwege would always talk to me about Chicago because he knew that was my hometown. Dr. Floyd Behrens knew I was interested in teaching reading so he encouraged me to get my master's. There were others too, these are just two examples.” 

Bill and I have been richly blessed, and we believe it is our responsibility to share those blessings by supporting Christ-centered endeavors. We strongly believe in Concordia's mission and have observed over the years Concordia's unwavering dedication to that mission. That dedication to mission and ministry encourages us to continue our support.

Preuss’ first teaching call was to Bethlehem Lutheran School in Chicago, Illinois, where she taught third and fourth grades. She married William Preuss CO '60 the following summer and returned to Nebraska.  

“I taught in a one-room school at Waco, Nebraska,” she said. “I had 17 children in all eight grades. I returned to Concordia Nebraska to complete my degree. I took classes in the first semester and had only one class to take the second semester. So, I took that sociology class at 7:30 in the morning and then taught Kindergarten through fourth grade in Garland Nebraska for the remainder of the day. Graduation was May 28. I didn't attend however, since our son was born that day!” 

Dr. Willa Koenig, then serving as university registrar, brought Preuss’ diploma to her apartment when she came home from the hospital following delivery. 

“Bill received a call to Staplehurst, Nebraska, as principal and teacher of grades five through eight, so we moved to Staplehurst. After four years at Staplehurst, Bill received a call to Concordia Nebraska, so we moved back to Seward,” she said. “I stayed home with our children and worked on my master's degree in reading.”  

She began teaching Title 1 reading at St. John Lutheran School in Seward. When her master's degree in reading was complete, she began taking classes in special education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  

“When I had the special education endorsement, I taught special education at Seward High School,” she said. “In 1978, I received a call from Concordia Nebraska to write the courses for a special education endorsement. I taught a variety of elementary education courses and wrote the special education courses.” 

Meanwhile, she worked on her Ph.D., which she completed in January 1980. 

“I continued to teach courses in special education,” she said. “Later I became the chair of the education department and eventually the dean of education.” 

She retired in 2002.  

“Once I retired, I volunteered to assist with various items in the graduate program and taught graduate classes online,” she said. “While that was happening, Concordia Nebraska lost its director of library services, and I was asked to assist in the library. During that experience, I received an invitation to attend a synodical meeting regarding Concordia Selma, Alabama. Following the meeting, I was asked to be the academic dean at Selma. Bill and I discussed it, and in December of 2007 I moved to Selma. I served there for 18 months with only brief visits home.”  

“The most fulfilling part of my ministry is the ability to invest in others,” she said. 

Preuss enjoys reading, quilting and sewing, and is involved in two Bible classes and walks two-and-a-half miles at least five days a week. She and Bill have four children (their son Dr. Tim Preuss ‘83 is provost of the university), 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. The great grandchildren range in age from 10 years to 3 months. 

“Bill and I have been richly blessed, and we believe it is our responsibility to share those blessings by supporting Christ-centered endeavors,” she said. “We strongly believe in Concordia's mission and have observed over the years Concordia's unwavering dedication to that mission. That dedication to mission and ministry encourages us to continue our support.” 

This March, we invite you to join us for Seeds of Generosity, a month-long celebration of giving and impact at Concordia University, Nebraska. Together, we’re sowing seeds of faith, learning and service that will grow for generations to come. Every gift—whether large or small—helps sustain our mission to provide Christ-centered education, support our students and prepare servant leaders for the church and the world.