Werner Thiessen Thiessen

Our dear father, Werner Thiessen, was called home to be with our Heavenly Father October 6, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. He was 88 years old.

Werner was born in Java, Indonesia, on March 12, 1936 to missionaries Dr. John Thiessen and Paula Inklaar Thiessen. WW II began while Werner was still a young child and he and his family members suffered terribly during the Japanese Occupation of Indonesia; witnessing unimaginable atrocities on a daily basis. After the war, Werner and his family returned to Holland where they, again, lost everything in the "Spring Floods".



At the young age of fifteen, Dad's parents sent him to America. The man Dad's father had helped in the Japanese concentration camp was to meet Dad in New York but the man never arrived. At 15 years old and unable to speak English, Dad was on his own. He went to a church where the Pastor and his wife took Dad in and taught him how to swing a hammer. That was the beginning of Dad's American Dream.

Werner met and married the love of his life, Joan Simmons, also a child of missionaries, when he was 19. They raised their four children together and were married for 56 years until Mom's passing in 2013.

Werner spent his life learning everything he could in real estate, law, zoning, building, investing. He was a very driven man. While known for his roughness to some, he was highly intelligent and respected by colleagues and family alike for his skill as a negotiator, breadth of knowledge and keen investment skills. He excelled in building homes, acquiring real estate, and eventually working for Toll Brothers as Sr. VP of Land Acquisitions until his retirement in his early eighties. All through Werner's adult life, he helped others in business by mentoring them, as well as offering and creating opportunities for people, including strangers who just needed an opportunity. It was not unlike Werner to offer his jacket and gloves to the gas station attendant on a bitter cold day. Werner always remembered his childhood and instead of giving up, he worked hard and when he was able, helped others along the way just as he had been helped. Werner was the epitome of the American Dream.

Werner is survived by his children, Deborah Vilcheck, Genevieve Rudy, Sharon Black, and William Thiessen as well as grandchildren, Andrew Black IV, John Vilcheck, Eric Vilcheck, CJ, Angela, and Wesley Rudy. Werner was the brother to Iwan Thiessen and John Thiessen, and brother-in-law to David Simmons. His family extended to nieces and nephews, Michael Thiessen, Heather Thiessen, Johnathan Thiessen, David Simmons, Gary Simmons, and Mark Simmons.

Sadly, Werner was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan Thiessen, his precious granddaughter, Shaelee Tatum Black, as well as his brother Therbi, and sisters-in-law Aud Thiessen and Helen Simmons.

The family invites friends to the viewing and visitation Thursday, October 17 from 6 PM to 8 PM at John F. Givnish of Buckingham Funeral Home located at 4886 York Rd., Buckingham, PA 18912. Light fare with tea and coffee will be available. Additional services will take place at Neshaminy-Warwick Presbyterian Church located at 1401 Meetinghouse Rd, Warminster, PA 18974 on Friday, October 18, including a family viewing from 9:30 AM to 10 AM, followed by a public viewing from 10 AM to 11 AM. Services will be held at 11 AM, where friends and family are encouraged to share their memories of Werner. The interment will be held at Mechanicsville Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at Baci Restorante in Buckingham.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Werner's granddaughter, Shaelee Tatum Black, may be made to the Myocarditis Foundation at https://myocarditisfoundation.org. Contributions will support medical research aimed at finding a cure for this disease that has taken so many young lives. Shaelee's mother, Sharon Black, plans to establish "Shaelee's Heart," a foundation aimed at raising awareness of myocarditis among parents, schools, and coaches.