Lawrence Jewell Gier, Jr. “Larry” was born on June 4, 1945, in Cairo, Illinois, and was raised in Charleston, Missouri, where he attended St. Henry Catholic School and began building the strong foundation of faith, character and work ethic that would define his life.
As a young man, he worked a variety of jobs, including time on the barges and at the local IGA grocery store. It was there that he met the love of his life, Vicki Bridges. Their meeting marked the beginning of a beautiful love story that would span over 60 years of marriage—years filled with devotion, partnership, and unwavering love.
He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps, carrying that same sense of duty and strength throughout his life. He went on to dedicate 37 years to the railroad as a locomotive engineer, a career that reflected his reliability, discipline, and steadfast nature.
A man of faith, he was a devoted member of Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, where he served for many years as part of the “Monday Morning Crew,” always willing to lend a hand and do whatever was needed. His quiet service and commitment leaves a lasting impact on his church family.
He was the rock of his family—a man of integrity, strength, and kindness who influenced countless lives. He loved deeply and gave freely, always putting his family first. He is survived by his beloved wife, Vicki; his children, Bryan (Susan Schaefer) Gier, Elizabeth (Omar) Hadi and Sarah (John) Budde; his grandchildren Cortnie (Will), Madison (Ermal), Jude, Adam, Mason and the late Cody, and Jake, Josh and Emma; his great grandchildren Willey, Gracie Lou, Piper, Erabella and Lenna, along with countless bonus children and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Loretta Gier; siblings Maureen, Daniel and Leann; and grandson Cody Budde. He was cherished as Husband, Brother, Dad, Pop, Uncle, Great Uncle, and Friend.
He had a gift for bringing joy to others. He loved joking and kidding with people, and his contagious laugh could light up any room. For 20 years, he brought that same joy to others by volunteering as “Santa Claus” at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin TX, as well as locally, creating special memories for so many children and families.
He and Vicki shared a love of travel and camping, building a lifetime of memories together. Their home was always a place of warmth and welcome—a gathering place filled with laughter, celebrations, and the comfort of a good home-cooked meal at “Pop’s Greasy Spoon,” including traditional “Tuesday Night Dinners” with Nana and Pop.
He will be remembered for his strength, his unwavering love for his family, his servant’s heart, and the joy he brought to those around him. His legacy lives on in the many lives he touched and the family he loved so deeply.
Services: Visitation on Monday, April 27, 4-8 p.m. Funeral at Kutis South County Chapel 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd. on Tuesday, April 28, 12:30pm, with procession to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, the church Larry and Vicki love so much.