Lifelong Learner Award: Kim (Weinhold) Marxhausen CO '81 GR '95

Seward, NE (10/02/2025) — During Homecoming weekend, the Concordia Alumni Association honors alumni and friends for their outstanding service and accomplishments. The Lifelong Learner Award is presented to a graduate alumnus of Concordia who has demonstrated a commitment to service through volunteerism and/or significant vocational achievement.

Kim (Weinhold) Marxhausen CO '81 GR '95 is a self-employed writer, speaker and research methodology consultant. She also teaches in the educational psychology department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She previously served in Lutheran schools in Nebraska as a Kindergarten teacher and first through fourth grade teacher. Marxhausen has an associate of arts degree from St. John's College in Winfield, Kansas, a bachelor of science in elementary education with English concentration from then-named Concordia Teachers College in Seward, a master's in education from then-named Concordia College in Seward and a Ph.D. in educational psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

A frequent speaker at LCMS events, she has presented at conferences in more than 25 different states and 21 districts of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), serving teachers, administrators, DCEs and deaconesses in Lutheran education. She has also presented to various organizations supporting private and public educators. Recently, she was asked to speak on behalf of organizations interested in supporting caregivers.

"My presentation schedule includes national conferences such as the Lutheran Education Association's convocations and the LCMS district conferences in Florida/Georgia, Texas and the Pacific Southwest," she said. "My most recent assignment was to keynote for the Early Childhood Educators Conference this past June at Concordia Nebraska. Because speaking has been the focus of my ministry since I left teaching, I am confident the total number would be over 100."

Marxhausen is a member of the Lutheran Education Association (LEA) and previously served on the Early Childhood Network and the organization's board of directors.

She previously served Faith Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, as child and family ministry director and currently supports the church's family ministry by creating home worship materials. She also recently began volunteering for local elections by working at a polling station. She currently serves the LCMS on the Synodical Commission for Ministerial Growth and Support.

"As I am self-employed, I go from contract to contract, which creates a seemingly unrelated work list. I have conducted numerous podcasts and webinars for the Lutheran Education Association, Lutheran Special Education Ministries, CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) and other organizations," she said.

She also designs curriculum for teaching classes. She has taught for Concordia Nebraska, Concordia Wisconsin, Concordia Selma, Doane and Nebraska Wesleyan.

"I spend a great deal of time writing. I am published through Concordia Publishing House, including chapters for a book President Bull edited titled "The Pedagogy of Faith: Essays on Lutheran Education." My most recent book is Weary Joy: The Caregiver's Journey, about our family's experiences caring for my husband's parents," she said. "I am currently working with a friend on a book to help pastors, DCEs and teachers to better work with those who are neurodiverse."

She also self-publishes free resources for Lutheran Schools through her website, Let My Teaching Fall Like Rain as well as her devotional blogs, Stepping Out in Faith and FaithParent. Marxhausen also often participates in podcasts and Facebook live sessions and can frequently be found writing articles for Shaping the Future (LEA), Issues in Education (Concordia Nebraska), the Lutheran Education Journal (Concordia Chicago) or an internationally-distributed parenting newsletter for the LCMS School Ministry called Parent Pages. She also works with doctoral candidates at Concordia Chicago, providing assistance with methodology for dissertation projects.

She and her husband Paul have two children: Joel Marxhausen and Anne Miller.

"My husband and I grew up together in Seward. Paul earned a bachelor's degree in music composition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and shortly after we married, he completed a degree in electronics at Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska. He recently retired after 40 years of providing support to professors, students and research in the Electrical Engineering Department at UNL. He works at our church as a worship leader, sharing his gifts through singing, playing the guitar and writing worship music," she said.

Anne was born while Kim was teaching at Faith Lutheran School in Lincoln. Anne graduated from UNL with a degree in music education and has since earned certifications in Kodaly and Orff teaching methods. She and her husband, Chris Miller, live in Bellevue, Nebraska, and both work in Omaha. Anne teaches art and music to preschool through 8th grade students at a Catholic elementary school in North Omaha. Joel was also born in Lincoln. He graduated from Southeast Community College with a degree in information technology. He currently works in that field for Lincoln Public Schools. He utilizes his musical talents by singing and playing various instruments for the worship team at Faith Lutheran Church.

Paul and Kim are both children of Concordia Nebraska faculty members. Paul's father - Reinhold Marxhausen - started the university's art department and taught at Concordia Nebraska for many years. Paul's family property has since been repurposed as the Center for Liturgical Art. Kim's father, J.D. Weinhold, taught for many years in the education, science and math departments. He served as the head of the science and math department for many years.

"God built me to be a teacher, and that is what I do whether I am in a classroom, at a conference, consulting online or writing. Teaching is a vocation that allows me to participate in Christ's mission in the left-hand kingdom. Regardless of whether I am teaching, caregiving or serving my family, my vocation fills my heart with joy," said Marxhausen. "Recently, I met up with two students I taught as a part-time instructor at Concordia Nebraska. They are now leaders in their community and the field of early childhood education. Two of my former elementary students are now administrators, and I have a former first-grade student who is now my pastor. And it warms my heart when I hear from caregivers how my book has met a need for them. What could be more fulfilling than these things?"

Marxhausen said she is blessed to be self-employed, because it allows most of her interests to be incorporated into her work. She enjoys writing, research methodology and - when she's not working - baking anything that contains rhubarb. She also grows rhubarb.

"Because my father was on the faculty, my experiences at Concordia Nebraska began when I was nine years old. Concordia was expanding quickly causing housing in Seward to be at a premium, so we briefly lived on campus in a dorm. My earliest memories include the joy of being within walking distance of a library with a vast selection of children's literature. Later, I recall sledding down the hill, which is now where the David dorm sits. In high school, I worked summers for the buildings and grounds department as a carpet shampooer and dorm cleaner," she said. "As a student, I transferred to Concordia from St. John's College in Winfield, Kansas, for my junior year. For me, it felt like being home, as I was familiar with the campus and many of the faculty members. I enjoyed being challenged by my professors to learn more and think deeper. I treasured the friends I made and the opportunities we had to worship together."

Marxhausen said she treasures the lasting relationships with staff, faculty and students that she built during her time at Concordia Nebraska. Although many of the faculty and staff had seen her grow up, she said she had the opportunity to develop new relationships as they nurtured her potential as a young adult. And she said her time as a graduate student at the university pushed her to grow even more.

"In graduate school, I had professors who encouraged me to write for the profession and continue my education to earn a doctorate. I am not sure I would have pursued either of these goals without their encouragement. These things were not on my radar, and now I cannot imagine my life without what these goals have allowed me to do," she said. "I am a firm believer that God grants us the abilities we need as we need them. Concordia Nebraska helped me to believe this and trust that if God set a new kind of work before me, He would equip me to serve in that capacity. Concordia also taught me the blessings of fellowship and how God prepares us to work with and help each other."

Marxhausen said she believes it is essential for individuals to spend the latter part of their adolescence nurtured by those who teach and live the faith.

"It is a time of identity formation, and faith plays a crucial role in that process," she said. "The faith of my family became my faith during my college years. I was continually met with intelligent, creative and industrious adults who lived their faith each day. I learned that my faith was not reserved for my time in worship but could be effortlessly integrated into all that God asks me to do."

During Homecoming and Alumni Reunion Weekend, Concordia University, Nebraska joyfully celebrates alumni and friends whose faith-filled service, leadership and achievements inspire the Concordia community and beyond.

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