Golden Reunion Alumni Profile: David O. Geidel 

July 10-13, 2023 Concordia Nebraska celebrates the college classes of 1972 and 1973, and also the high school class of 1968 during a spectacular “Golden Reunion” celebration.  

For the Geidel family, attending Concordia Nebraska is a family affair. David O. Geidel ’72 and his older sister attended the university, and two of David’s sons, one daughter and one daughter-in-law are also Concordia Nebraska graduates.  

Geidel said his parents strongly encouraged him to attend Concordia Nebraska, where he studied education, biology and earned a Lutheran Teacher Diploma. He said the university provided him not only with needed methods courses in education but also a solid Biblical foundation and a broader understanding of the world. He cited professor Erich E. Helge’s wisdom and advice and the encouragement of Coach Stan Brassie and Coach Larry Oetting as influences that stood out during his time on campus.  

“They showed care and concern,” he said. “And I enjoyed engaging instruction and hands on learning in labs.  [Concordia also helped grow my faith through] daily chapel and the required classes in study of the Bible.”  

Geidel’s first teacher call in 1972 was as a fourth grade teacher at Prince of Peace in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota.  After two years of teaching and coaching, he was asked to take on the additional responsibilities as principal. He then received a call to serve as principal and teacher Immanuel Lutheran Church and School in Loveland, Colorado in 1983.  As the school grew, he moved to a part-time teacher role and eventually became full-time principal.  He was then called to Immanuel in Brandon, Florida to serve as principal in 2006. He completed his career in Lutheran schools at Trinity Lutheran School, Lincoln, Nebraska, as principal from 2015-2017.  

“My wife Mona and I retired in 2017 and moved to the farm I grew up on in South Dakota,” he explained. “For the next five years, my wife and I worked part-time at a greenhouse from May to July. I also helped out friends and relatives with harvest when needed and filled in as a substitute bus driver when needed.”   

He began serving part-time as the education executive of the South Dakota District of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod in January 2022, making frequent visit to Lutheran schools, preschools and early childhood centers. When he’s not working he enjoys visiting and playing Pinochle with Mona and his 100-year-old mother. He also enjoys snow removal, gardening, yard work, visiting MLB ballparks, traveling with his wife, and driving a school bus as needed. He tries to golf at least twice a week May through October.  

He said the most fulfilling thing about his current position is sharing the love, joy and peace of Christ with students and their parents. He also enjoys leading schools through the National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) process and serving as NLSA consultant and on validation teams in Colorado, Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota.  

Geidel said he has many wonderful memories of his time at Concordia, including time with friends in the dorms and trips with the cross country and track teams. He is looking forward to the Golden Reunion, which will give him an opportunity to catch up with friends and classmates he has not seen in a number of years. 

Geidel’s son Jeremy CO '96 GR '00 and his wife Dr. Amanda (Reither) Geidel '96 are Concordia Nebraska alumni, as well. Jeremy previously served as the university’s director of graduate admissions and operations and is now assistant head of school at Lincoln Lutheran. Amanda is an education professor, special education program director and education department chair for the university. The couple has four children.  

David Geidel’s daughter Naomi ’98 has taught in California, Japan, Denver, Indonesia and Thailand. She will be teaching in South Korea beginning in August. David’s daughter Rachael ‘01 and husband Paul have four children. Son Joshua and wife Keeghan have one daughter. Joshua is a captain in the Marines and currently stationed in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Learn more about the Concordia Nebraska Golden Reunion celebration here. 

Are you interested in discovering teacher education offerings available at Concordia Nebraska? Learn more here.