Greg Garmer, 78, tragically passed away after falling through the ice in Superior on Sunday, December 1. Garmer was a retired Pastor who served for years at French River Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church. He was also a longtime member of the congregation at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Duluth.

Reverend David Carlson, Pastor at Lutheran Dei, had known Garmer for nearly 25 years.

“The Church is stunned, as you can imagine, devastated, [and] heartbroken, but also filled with gratitude for his witness, for his ministry, his friendship, his collegiality and his faith,” said Reverend Carlson Tuesday, December 3.

Carlson remembering Garmer as a man who inspired those around him.

“I think Greg really lived life to the fullest,” said Carlson. “Greg really gifted us [and] helped us think about important matters and he was involved in different book discussion groups and different outreach ministries. He was always there when there was some kind of ministry of accompanying people who were on the margins, whether it was our neighborhood breakfast or whether it was speaking for Lutheran Social Service or Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light.”

For Carlson, Garmer was also a forward-looking man who always thinking about what else the Church could do.

“Whether he was discussing racial justice or religion and science or was helping us to think through installing solar panels,” Carlson continued. “He was excited about the ways that we could live more fully into our calling as people of faith.”

Garmer addressed the Church for the final time on Sunday, December 1, when he did a scripture reading for the first Sunday of Advent.

“And May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you,” read Garmer from 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13. “And may he strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father and the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Word of God, world of life.”

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church is planning a service to remember Garmer. Those details are still being determined and will be announced at a later date.