Loren Gieger's life influenced thousands by directing them toward the grace and salvation found through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He inspired hundreds of college students to pursue ministry while teaching them to accurately preach the Gospel Message. His influence continues today through sermons preached in churches across the country. His achievements in his work were only surpassed by his excellence as a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Loren was born to Ida and Luther Gieger in Paris, Texas, on December 29, 1937. He grew up with wonderful parents and a great little sister, Gayla. His childhood was filled with love and good friends. He was close to his grandparents, "Mom" and "Pop". He liked recalling how patient his grandfather was teaching him to drive a standard jeep vehicle on the roads around Talco during the summers. He spent those summer days exploring, enjoying his blessings, and swimming in ponds (after scaring the water moccasins away). His skill as a trumpeter resulted in a full scholarship to the University of Texas with plans for a degree in engineering, but he chose instead to attend Abilene Christian University and follow his call to serve God in his career as a minister. At ACU he met the love of his life and married Iola. Together they loved, laughed, furthered their education, raised a family, and pursued others for Christ.
While serving as a minister at the Highland Church of Christ, he attended graduate school for his Ph.D. in Fort Worth. Somehow, he managed to be a great father to three young boys while managing graduate school and weekly preparing and delivering the: Sunday Morning Sermon, Sunday Evening Sermon, Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class, Sunday Afternoon Youth Bible Class, Tuesday Morning Ladies Bible Class, Wednesday Night Adult Bible Class, and a Church Bulletin with Articles He Authored. Throw in elder's meetings, hospital visits, weddings, funerals, and the fact he did it all on a typewriter without internet, and his talent and amazing ability was evident. His creativity and skill working with his hands also showed in his love for hobbies and trains. He created scale models of steam-train-engine-era towns by looking at photographs and constructing each building from raw balsa wood. During those years his family and Gayla's family would vacation together. They drove across the country in station wagons pulling pop-up tent trailers all at 55 mph (with no seatbelts). Those were fun trips full of great memories seeing the nation's landmarks with the combined six cousins enjoying life.
He transitioned from a full-time minister to a college professor with the same skill and educated students first at Michigan Christian College and then Oklahoma Christian University for over 30 years. He was a master at using PowerPoint to illustrate his lessons and incorporated pictures of trips to Isreal and Biblical sites into his archeology classes. He mastered and taught Greek, and his knowledge gave special insight into understanding and teaching the New Testament. He also preached for the Stroud Church of Christ and taught the "Early-Bird" Class at Memorial Road for decades while at OC, again driven by his amazing work ethic and call to preach. Iola was always with him helping, teaching children's Bible classes, and teaching piano to help make ends meet. They were a great team, great parents, and great grandparents. He retired to care for her when she physically needed his help, and he demonstrated what true love is through his actions and tireless efforts. For the last few years, his oldest son, Leland, assisted him so much, and they were able to take memorable trips together and enjoyed each other's companionship. Many others including Ashlea Joplin, Joanie Chambers, extended family, and friends helped and visited him, returning the love they experienced from this caring man.
Loren is survived by his sister Gayla Pope and her husband Terry, son Gayland and his wife Shannon Gieger, and son Shawn and his wife Ginger Gieger. He is also survived by his adoring grandchildren, Lauren and her husband Rocky Castillo, Harrison Gieger and his wife Vivian, Jackson Gieger, Alex Gieger, Ashley Jackson, Mackenzie Farney, Grace Farney, and Caleb Miller. Finally, he is survived by his great grandson, Baylor, and great granddaughter, Wrenly. He is greatly loved by his family and friends and his legacy will live on in them.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21
Formal Visitation will be held from 3:00pm -6:00pm with family present at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, Oklahoma.
Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 21, 2025, at Memorial Park Cemetery in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.