William Rudolph Gieck, 93, of Federal Way, Washington, passed away in the comfort of his home on Sunday, February 2, 2025.

Bill was born in Beiseker, Alberta, Canada, to John and Maria (Kafer) Gieck, of Beiseker, both originally from Odessa, Russia. Bill attended and graduated from Concordia High School and Senior College in Edmonton, Alberta in 1951. In the fall of 1951, he moved to the United States where he went on to study for the ministry in the Lutheran Church at Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Illinois. In August of 1953, he married Loretta Rosnau, of Bruderheim, Alberta, who he met during his high school years at Concordia.

After graduating with a Master of Divinity from the seminary in 1956, Bill, with Loretta and their oldest son, Michael, was called to his first parish in a small town West of the Rocky Mountains, Delta, Colorado. There, three more children were born to complete the family, Linda, Lorie, and Timothy. During his 45-year ministry in Lutheran parishes throughout the Western United States and Canada he served congregations in Colorado, Utah, California, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, always with a strong emphasis on mission work and educating young children in parishes where he and Loretta served.

While living in Southern California in the mid-1960’s, Bill completed his master’s degree in Marriage Counseling at San Diego’s United States International University. This service of working with couples in his congregations over the years was one of the many highlights of his ministry. Bill and Loretta served as mission ministers in Tijuana, Mexico. Bill was privileged to lecture to pastors in South Korea and was involved in workshops with the Lutheran Bible Translators in South Africa. Upon his retirement in 1996, Bill continued his ministry as interim vacancy pastor in local congregations.

Throughout his long and joyful life, Bill has been a lover of the outdoors. He was delighted to travel, camp, hike, fish, (adventuring to the best fly-fishing sites in Montana and Wyoming with his brother-in-law), and share this love of nature with his children and grandchildren.

Bill was creative, developing a woodworking craft that resulted in showering his grandchildren with many of his creations. This inspired several of them to take up this artistic hobby. He was a collector and carver of fine and rare woods. He created nuanced beautiful pieces including numerous religious wall hangings and custom furniture, all of which his loved ones will continue to cherish.

Bill and Loretta were blessed to spend more than 71 years together as a married couple. Their family of four children has expanded now to 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Bill is predeceased by his parents, John and Maria, and his five siblings, Oscar, Albert, Elsie (Schmidt), Erna (Straub), and Violet (Ruskowsky). He is survived by his wife, Loretta (Rosnau), and children Michael (Joanne) of Adelaide, Australia, Linda O’Connor (George) of Falls Church, Virginia, Lorie Morgan of Valparaiso, Indiana, and Timothy (Teri) of Milton, Washington.

The memorial service and celebration of Bill’s life will be held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 2306 Milton Way, Milton, Washington, on Saturday, February 15, at 1:00pm. Memorial donations may be made to “The Voice of Martyrs” a global
ministry that serves persecuted Christians in the world’s most difficult and dangerous places.