The Warren community is mourning the loss of Warren Family Mission Executive Director and Pastor, Chris Gilger after he unexpectedly died on Tuesday.

According to Warren Family Mission's Public Relations Director, Dominic Mararri, he received a call notifying him of Gilger's death at approximately 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Mararri tells 21 News that Gilger was driving home from West Virginia after a trip to help a client with addiction, but pulled his car to the side of the road near the Ravenna exit because he was not feeling well.

Mararri says OSP eventually found the Gilger dead in his vehicle and notified the Mission of the death.

"He was always there for everyone," said John Brown, Warren At-large Councilman. "He was everywhere. Anytime. Any place. It's a huge loss for our city."

Mararri tells 21 News that this is a big loss not only for him and the Mission, but for the community of Warren as a whole, describing Gilger as a "father figure" and stating that Gilger had "saved his life."  

"The community lost a man with the biggest heart who was always willing to help those in need," Mararri said. Mararri knew Gilger well, after he helped him through addiction recovery.

Mararri went on to say that Gilger's mission was to help the community one life at a time and that he died while doing something he loved.

"We are trusting God and celebrating the life and legacy of this wonderful man of God," Mararri said.

"Gilger would help with the civic project, with cleaning the bike trail, getting a lot mowed or getting a lot cleaned up," Brown explained. "He was everywhere, always."

"He was a living example of a person who was committed to families and the citizens of Warren," said Doug Franklin, Mayor of Warren. "There's probably not a section, corridor or quadrant of our community that Pastor Chris, in his service to our community, hasn't touched."

Mayor Franklin said there is no one who would come close to replicate Pastor Gilger's life work. 

"He blessed my administration tremendously," Mayor Franklin added. "With cutting lots, cleaning up graveyards and the mausoleum. It's always one call to the Family Mission."

In lieu of flowers, Gilger's family is asking the community to support their GoFundMe. 

Mararri asks the community to keep Gilger in its prayers during this time of mourning.

"What we can all do is to try and live in his legacy," Franklin said. "Try to carry out the example he provided for us."