Priscilla Lawin
1941 - 2021
Priscilla Ann Lawin was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 6, 1941 to Herbert and Emma (Knuth) Lawin. She passed away peacefully on February 24, 2021 at age 79 in her home at Kinship Pointe in Seward, NE. Priscilla was baptized and confirmed in her faith at Holy Cross Lutheran church in Detroit.
Priscilla earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska, in 1963. Her first call after graduation was to Zion Lutheran School in Akron, Ohio, where she taught for seven years. While in Akron, she earned a Master of Education degree from Kent State University.
In 1970, Priscilla returned to Concordia as an Assistant Professor of Education and a student teacher supervisor. Pris’s love of travel was tested as she logged thousands of miles visiting her student teachers across the United States.
In 1978, Priscilla earned a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado, becoming the third female faculty member to do so in the history of Concordia in Seward. Her doctoral research fit directly with her role of reading methods specialist as she studied the comparative readability of six Bible translations as seen through the eyes of 300 eighth grade students
Dr. Priscilla Lawin was named Professor of Education at Concordia in Seward in 1985. She then became Director of Elementary Education and Student Teaching in 1987, and she would serve many years in this role. She was honored to extend Concordia’s student teacher program to include schools in Hong Kong and Australia.
Beyond Seward, Pris strove to enhance the partnership between Concordia in Seward and Concordia in Selma, Alabama, organizing several student exchanges. She also served at Concordia College in Selma, both during a sabbatical leave and later after retirement.
Priscilla was a member of St John Lutheran Church in Seward, participating actively in Bible studies and in a strong Christ Care group. She was a voracious reader, loved to travel, and took an active interest in public affairs. She was a long-time member and past president of the League of Women Voters in Seward. She was also a member of numerous professional organizations.
Her love of family was evident to all who knew her, finding great joy in visits and attending family reunions. Priscilla touched many lives personally and professionally, and she saw herself first as a “servant of God”.
Priscilla was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by a sister, Celeste (Jeff) Craemer of San Rafael, California, a brother, Paul (Sandy) Lawin of Waverly Iowa, as well as by her nieces and nephew, Rebecca Lawin McCarley of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Ami Lawin of Long Lake, Minnesota, and Peter (Johanna Lee) Lawin of Waconia, Minnesota, and four great-nephews, Patrick, Justin, and Lucas McCarley, and Teddy Lawin.
Priscilla will be buried near her parents and many relatives at Riverview Cemetery in St Joseph, Michigan. A graveside service will be held at 12:00 on Saturday March 6, with Pastor Martin Measel officiating. Visitation with the family will be held prior to the service from 10:30-11:30 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel in St. Joseph.
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