Concordia University Founder’s Mother Dies : Obituary: Lorna E. Manske was 99. Her son was the first president of the school that opened in Irvine in 1973.

The mother of the founding president of Concordia University in Irvine has died of natural causes in a Santa Ana health care center, only months away from her 100th birthday.

Lorna E. Manske, a resident of Orange County for 22 years, had been active in church and community organizations in Southern California.

In 1973, her son, Prof. Charles L. Manske, founded Christ College, a liberal arts college later renamed Concordia University. He currently is graduate professor and director of the Reformation Theology graduate program at Concordia.

“I will remember her for her strong Christian faith, which permeated every aspect of her life and prepared her for eternity,” said Manske, who was at his mother’s bedside when she passed away.

Before retiring in 1960, Lorna Manske was the executive housekeeper of St. Luke’s Hospital in Sebewaing, Mich., where she was raised. After retirement, she moved to Santa Monica, where she became president of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and was an active member of the Pilgrim Lutheran church.

She was widowed in 1940.

Manske died Feb. 27 at the Town and Country Skilled Health Care Center, where she had lived since having hip surgery a year ago.

She also is survived by a daughter, Alma Denner of Sebewaing and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Shepherd of Peace Lutheran Church, 18182 Culver Drive, Irvine.