William Leonhardt Fredrck Gies, known to his loved ones as Bill, was born on May 17th, 1962, to a loving father and mother in Milwaukee WI. He was the eldest of three children with two younger sisters. After attending Concordia University Milwaukee Campus and Concordia Lutheran Seminary St. Louis, MO he served his vicarage in Detroit, Michigan. His first call was to Tennessee, before the Lord led him to shepherd His people in Maryland. In recent years he had the privilege of leading God's people in worship serving as a supply pastor to LCI-NALC_ELCM congregations not only in Maryland but across the Mid-Atlantic region. Bill was a member of the Society of the Holy Trinity (STS), having subscribed to the rule of the ministerium in the second year of its existence.

Bill was a proud Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. His joy found in the outdoors continued throughout his life, and in his later years he could regularly be found walking in the woods talking with God. If the weather was nice, you could count on him returning home with his shoes in hand and his feet covered in dirt. When he wasn't getting intentionally lost in nature, he was bringing joy to his friends and family in the form of feeding them his latest vegetarian culinary masterpiece. If you'd eaten it before, he'd be sure to make it even better to win you over to home cooking. While he was known for his strong and beautiful singing voice, he was also an accomplished and enthusiastic amateur musician, having played the violin for nearly 50 years. His passionate consumption of music and art influenced many facets of his life, notably in his love of classic rock, namely The Beatles, leading to his grandchildren affectionately calling him ''Grandude".

Bill is survived by his wife of over 14 years; his son, daughter-in-law, and their two children; his daughter and new son-in-law; his mother, two sisters, two nephews, niece and numerous other loving family members. His loved ones find comfort and solace knowing that he is home with his Lord. 

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date, details to be provided by the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in memory of Bill to one of the charities listed below:

The American Red Cross-Southeast Chapter

2600 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53233

414-342-8680

Mail checks to address as well.

American Heart Association

NALC Disaster Relief Fund care of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Bowley’s Quarters, Maryland

3620 Redrose Farm Road, Baltimore Maryland 21220

Email: office@stmatthewbq.org

Old Zion Lutheran Church care of Joan Wachlin

2012 Wallace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19130

Old Zion Lutheran Church