Grace College & Grace Theological Seminary is mourning the passing of Dr. Ronald E. Manahan, the institution’s fifth president. Manahan devoted more than 50 years of faithful service to Grace, serving as president from 1994 to 2013.
“Dr. Manahan embodied the mission and heart of Grace College and Grace Theological Seminary in every season of his leadership,” said Grace College President Dr. Drew Flamm. “Under his guidance, Grace experienced remarkable growth, innovation, and renewed commitment to its biblical foundations. His influence on our students, faculty, and community is immeasurable, and his legacy will endure for generations.”
Manahan began his tenure at Grace in 1977, joining the faculty as a professor of biblical studies. Over the next several decades, he served the college and seminary in a wide range of roles, including chair of the biblical studies department, associate dean, academic vice president, and provost. His extensive leadership experience prepared him for his presidency, which officially began in 1994, after serving for a year as acting president.
A gifted theologian, servant leader, and visionary administrator, Manahan championed academic excellence, campus development, and affordability initiatives that continue to shape Grace today. During his tenure as president, Grace expanded academic offerings, strengthened financial stability, developed new student life facilities, and formed strategic community partnerships. He also shepherded the institution through changing educational landscapes with unwavering faith and wisdom.
Beyond administrative leadership, Dr. Manahan was known for his pastoral presence on campus. He invested deeply in students, mentoring countless young men and women to pursue lives of character, competence, and service. His colleagues remember him as a man of prayer, humility, and steadfast devotion to Christ.
After retiring from the presidency in 2013, Dr. Manahan continued to serve Grace and the local community. He held the title of president emeritus and remained active in teaching, board leadership, and ministry involvement. Many of Grace’s long-standing traditions and values bear the imprint of his influence.
“When I think of Dr. Manahan, I don’t simply think of a president, I think of a faithful shepherd,” said Flamm. “His life was marked by generosity, quiet strength, and a deep love for God’s Word. We rejoice knowing he is now in the presence of his Savior, and we give thanks for the extraordinary impact he had on this institution and all who knew him.”
Grace College & Seminary invites the community to join in remembering and celebrating the life of Dr. Manahan. A visitation will be held at Redpath-Fruth Funeral Home, 225 Argonne Road, Warsaw, Indiana, from 4-8 pm on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Dr. Manahan’s life will be celebrated at the Ron and Barbara Manahan Orthopedic Capital Center, 610 Wooster Road, Winona Lake, Indiana, at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2025, and officiated by Reverend Les Lofquist. A private burial service will take place at Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.
Manahan’s full obituary can be read here.
