Longmont newspaper Longmont, Colorado 11-25-01 The Rev. Waldemar Gies of Longmont died Thursday, Nov. 22, 2001, at his home following a lengthy illness. He was 83. Waldemar "Walt" Gies was born April 15, 1918, in Loveland to Eva Elizabeth (Frank) and Christian Gies, the fifth of eight children. The Rev. Gies graduated from Loveland High School in 1937, Hebron (Neb.) Jr. College and Academy in 1939 and Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, with a bachelor's degree in 1941. He attended Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating in 1944 with a degree in theology. Following his ordination into the ministry of the American Lutheran Church in 1944, he was called as an assistant to the bishop of what has become the Rocky Mountain Synod of the ELCA. During this time, he earned a master's degree in English from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. His next call was to a two-point parish at Kimball and Potter, Neb. While serving there, he married Esther Helen Ide on Aug. 21, 1947, in Mitchell, Iowa. After he served in the ministry in Ashland, Neb., from 1951-54, the family moved to Waverly, where he taught at Wartburg College (ELCA). His 29-year tenure began in the English department and early moved to the religion department. Around 1962, he began doctoral work in theology at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. During his time at Wartburg, the Rev. Gies acted as a "trouble shooter" interim pastor for the Iowa District of the ALC. He was sent to troubled parishes throughout Iowa to help them heal and aid in calling other pastors. He retired as professor emeritus of religion from Wartburg College in 1983. Upon retirement, he and his wife relocated to Green Valley, Ariz. In 1996, they settled into a retirement center in Tucson, as his health declined. They moved to Longmont in 1999, where he lived until his death. The Rev. Gies will be remembered for his devotion to faith and family; his sense of humor; his love of words, including collecting books on the West and his collaboration on Augsburg-Forteress Publishing House tests; his love of cars; and his enjoyment of sports. He was a member of Longmont's Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Naomi Gies Speaks; a granddaughter, Leah Speaks Gies; two sisters, Bertha Beitz and Irma Ide; and three brothers, Arthur, Herman and August Gies. He is survived by his wife of Longmont; two sons, Waldemar Gies and his wife Kathy of Rogers City, Mich., and Stephen Gies and his wife Cathy of St. Paul, Minn.; two daughters, Gretchen Tripolino and her husband Stephen of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Roberta Fjeld and her husband Paul of Longmont; four grandchildren, Elizabeth Gies, Christopher Tripolino, Noelle Tripolino and Hannah Speaks; two sisters, Frieda Zimmerman of Longmont and Patricia Stager of Westminster; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Glenn Isernhagen officiating. Cremation will take place at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.