Obituary of Luis Manuel Jourdain

Luis Manuel Jourdain Senior, 79, of State College, died Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at Mount Nittany Medical Center, State College, PA. Born March 14, 1937 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he was the son of the late Luis Emilio and Clara Elena Senior Jourdain. He married Alejandrina Pichardo Liranzo, on June 22, 1963, who survives at home. They have been together since 1958. He is survived by five children, Luis Manuel Jourdain, Jr., of State College, Alexandra Carolina Wentz Jourdain and her husband, Robert, of Pittsburgh, Marc Jose Jourdain, Sr. and wife Erica, of Tampa, FL, Jessica Maria Jourdain, of Hackensack, NJ, Luchy Mercedes Reeder and her husband, Mark, of Harmony, FL, six grandchildren, Luis Jourdain Wentz, Connor, Jordon and Calista Wentz, Marc Jose Jourdain II, Matthew Alejandro Jourdain and three siblings, Temistocles Jourdain Senior, Atocha Victoria Jourdain Abate, and Ramonita Jourdain Senior of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Luis Manuel graduated from the Universidad de Autonoma de Santo Domingo in Dominican Republic as a Doctor of Medicine in October 1962. The Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo was founded in 1538 and is the first university of the western hemisphere. In 1962 he emigrated to the United States to begin his career and start his family. Luis Manuel proudly enrolled and served in the United States Army and was promoted to the rank of Major in the Medical Corps, a few years later he was promoted to the Chief of Pathology at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. Upon his Honorable Discharge he accepted a position at the Altoona Hospital in 1975. He was employed as a Pathologist at both Altoona Hospital and Tyrone Hospitals for close to 40 years. He served as an Associate Professor for Hahnemann University and taught nursing students at the Altoona Hospital. Along with his duties, he served on the board He was an active member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church and the local chapter of Knights of Columbus. He was a tremendous man of great faith who truly loved helping others. He had a passion for volunteering with the Knights. To the point where he did not miss helping out at one home Penn State football game since the 1990's. Luis Manuel was an extraordinary gentleman. He was a humble man with great character. His legacy will continue to live on through his family and the people whose lives he touched. Visitation will be 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton Street, State College, PA. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Thursday, April 21 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church with the Fr. Mike Wolfe and Fr. Charles Ugo. Burial will be in Woodland Memorial Cemetery, Orlando, FL. Memorial contributions may be directed to Hope for the Anawim Ministries, Inc., 1333 South Allen Street, Suite 1, State College, PA 16801.Flowers may be ordered from Avant Garden, State College, 814-231-1212. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.