By Mary Mergenthal

Frederick Gaiser, 88, professor emeritus of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, died May 12, 2026.

Fred was born Oct. 5, 1937, in West Alexandria, Ohio, to George and Susan Gaiser.

Fred earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Kalamazoo College (Michigan), where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

While in high school, Fred won Virginia’s Westinghouse Science Talent Search, leading to summer jobs at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington. He later worked briefly as a research chemist at Upjohn Pharmaceutical Company, which eventually became Pfizer—a connection he enjoyed noting after receiving his COVID vaccine.

Then, in an unexpected career shift, Fred enrolled at Trinity Lutheran Seminary master of divinity degree in 1963. He then studied at Heidelberg University in Germany, where he received his doctorate in theology in 1985.

Fred was ordained in what is now the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 1969, and served as pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Humboldt, S.D., from 1969 to 1974. He was then called to teach at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, where he served as professor of Old Testament until his retirement in 2014.

During his teaching years, he served as registrar, dean of students, director of graduate studies, and director of the Luther Seminary in Zimbabwe program. From 1999 to 2003, he was a member of the ELCA Task Force on Health and Ethical Challenges in Health Care. His seminary-related work included serving as editor of Word & World: Theology for Christian Ministry for 25 years.

Fred is the author of countless articles, including his broadly acclaimed Word & World editorials. He translated and edited several books and articles, including several sermons by Martin Luther.

Due, in part, to his earlier work as a pharmaceutical chemist, Fred began teaching a course on healing in the Bible, which led to publication of his major work, Healing in the Bible: Theological Insight for Christian Ministry (Baker Academic, 2010).

Fred was frequently invited to teach and preach at congregations and conferences near and far, including in German in the United States and Germany and—with a translator—in English in Shona-speaking Zimbabwe congregations. In later years, he regularly led worship and preached at St. Anthony Park Home, which he found especially meaningful.

Fred also taught at Augsburg University in Minneapolis and St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. In Africa, he taught at the University of Zimbabwe, United Theological College and Africa University in Zimbabwe, and lectured at Tumaini University Makumira in Tanzania.

The years in Africa were a life-changing experience because, among other things, it brought him into contact with the woman who would become his wife, Barbara. They were married on June 26, 1999.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by Barbara and his children, Jonathan (Stephanie) of Omaha; Rebekah Todd of Eden Prairie; and Katharine Zink (Jeffrey), of Colorado Springs, Colo. Other survivors include stepson Tom Jorgenson (Bridget Griffith) and by seven grandchildren, plus one due in this fall; four great-grandchildren; and by his brother George (Judy).

Fred’s funeral service will be held at St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church on Friday, June 5, with visitation at 10 a.m., and funeral at 11 a.m.

Memorials preferred to St. Anthony Park Lutheran Church or Global Health Ministries, 7900 West 78th Street, Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55439.

Mary Mergenthal is the Park Bugle obits editor.