In Memory of Werner Gottfried Seubert
Werner Gottfried Seubert
Spouse: Debra Seubert
Children: Diana, Erik, Lauren, Anya
DOB: July 10, 1950
Blessing Date: July 1, 1982
Ascension: January 17, 2025
Seonghwa Ceremony: Tuesday, January 28, 12:30 PM EST at
Fort Lincoln Funeral Home & Cemetery 3401 Bladensburg Rd, Brentwood, MD 20722
Born on July 10, 1950, in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, Werner Gottfried Seubert entered the world as the cherished eldest son of Walter and Lia Seubert. Alongside his younger brother, Reiner, Werner grew up in a devout Roman Catholic household where Sunday Mass was a cornerstone of family life. His faith blossomed early, inspiring him to become a youth leader in his teens and later as a young adult.
A seeker of truth and justice, Werner’s youthful passion for improving the world led him to explore left-wing politics while steadfastly maintaining his involvement in Catholic youth activities. In his own words, he sought to create “communism, but with God,” a vision of harmony and unity guided by divine love.
Werner’s spiritual journey took a profound turn in the summer of 1970 when a coworker introduced him to the Unification Movement. Studying the Divine Principle at the Frankfurt church center illuminated questions that had long occupied his heart—questions about the origin of evil and the patterns of history that reveal God’s hand guiding humanity toward His ideal.
Eager to share these newfound truths, Werner began witnessing with fervor, inspiring others to explore the Divine Principle. Remarkably, his first spiritual son moved into the center before Werner himself did. During his work-study program, Werner devoted his evenings and weekends to supporting church centers in Essen, Heidelberg, and Frankfurt, serving as both a witness and a Divine Principle teacher. Later he joined the One World Crusade led by Paul Werner in Germany and Austria.
Joining this mission, Werner felt an exhilaration that transcended words. He saw himself as part of the grand renewal of all things, a participant in God’s unfolding providence. In 1973, Werner eagerly answered the call to move to America and support the Day of Hope rallies, a movement that reverberated around the globe and made the names of the True Parents known far and wide. In May 1973-74, he served as the State Leader of Wisconsin.
As God’s providence extended to all aspects of life, Werner embraced the opportunity to join The News World, a New York newspaper in 1976, while also dedicating his time to do Home Church activities in Harlem.
In 1982, Werner’s life was blessed when he married Debra Kreuz, a compassionate and dedicated registered nurse. Together, they built a beautiful family, raising four children: son Erik and daughters Diana, Lauren, and Anya. As a dad, Werner loved taking family outings to the mountains, hiking local parks and regaling his children with elaborately constructed puns and dad jokes; the cornier, the better. Werner’s love for his family grew even deeper as he welcomed nine beloved grandchildren (Liam, Archer, Quinn, Evie, Finley, Ellie, Jensen, Kora and Heath), with whom he enjoyed many happy family vacations, weekends and holidays. Werner found immense joy in watching his grandchildren grow, particularly admiring their talents on the soccer field.
Werner’s professional journey reflected his commitment to excellence and service. While raising four children in the early nineties, he dedicated time to support missions and teach Divine Principle in Venezuela and Russia. He brought his business acumen to roles at The Washington Times, as CFO at Atlantic Video and Times Aviation, and later, to a fulfilling chapter as the pastor of the Northern Virginia Family Church. Leading a spiritual community became the crowning joy of his life. In 2020, Werner and Debbie, as a Blessed Central Family, were registered as a CheonBo couple for the sake of their Heavenly legacy and future generations.
Even as health challenges arose, Werner’s faith and resilience shone brightly. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011, he faced the journey with courage, keeping the illness at bay for over a decade. Throughout, he continued to serve, generously volunteering his time and money to support those in need —most recently helping to rebuild an orphanage in Uganda for children who had lost their parents during the covid pandemic. In the summer of 2024, as his cancer progressed to stage 4, Werner embraced the love and support of his large church family, as well as that of his extended family across the country and overseas in Germany. He was buoyed by their visits and prayers, while Debbie’s devotion and care brought light and comfort to his final days.
Werner’s life is a testament to unwavering faith, boundless love, and tireless service. His legacy lives on in the hearts of those he touched and in the enduring love of his family. Werner passed into the spirit world on January 17, 2025, at 2:40 am at their home in Annandale, Virginia; his cherished wife of 42 years at his side.
