Pastor Waldschmidt's service to the congregation concluded in 1971. During the pastoral vacancy, Rev. Robert Hochmuth served as vacancy pastor of the congregation. Pastor Hochmuth was pastor of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Santa Clara, and had installed Pastor Waldschmidt in 1960 at the beginning of Gloria Dei's history. The congregation's vacancy ended on January 16, 1972, when Rev. Gerald E. Geiger was installed as the new pastor of the congregation.

Gloria Dei Lutheran School opened doors to a new facility in 1978. Construction for the school building began in July of that year, and the school was formally dedicated in December.

In March of 1981, the congregation beautified its church building by installing a faceted glass window in the front of the chapel and by remodeling the chancel. Visitors to the congregation today still comment about the beautiful stained glass window that adorns the front of the church building. The following year, 1982, Gloria Dei congregation became a fully self-supporting congregation, no longer receiving any subsidy from the Wisconsin Synod.