Werner G. Heidemann

Very sad to lose a life long friend, we had many happy travels and I will miss you

Werner was a unique experience: Keeping his German heritage including his well kept Mercedes fleet. He defended his more liberal values in mostly MAGA company. Werner embraced the American entrepreneurial spirit always in search of that elusive pot of gold.. He will be missed.

I can relate scores of stories from the many golf, ski trips and the regular lunches we had over 30+ years. The lunches at John's Cafe (no longer there) were memorable-Werner was always the first arrive and often the last to leave after we 'solved' so many of the world's problems. On one ski trip to Snow Basin in Utah, some of us decided to ski the runs that were used in the Olympics. Well, we picked a Monday with heaviest snow falling in weeks. We arrived early, but soon after, the U S Army arrived for a ski competition among different bases. Everyone assembled in the resort restaurant where the organizing officers detailed the rules.
After the announcements, an officer asked for questions. Werner, in his best German accent, stands up and shouts "what team are we on?" An officer asks "who the "H___" are you guys? Werner comments further about how we must be there to set the bar for the competitors. The participants didn't know whether to continue gasping or start laughing. Well we quickly got out of there to be first on the slopes.
While the snow was blindingly heavy, we reached the mountain top. Here, the lift operators questioned our being there since they just decided to close that top lift. We all had to ski down in the all-white atmosphere. Werner takes charge, separates us yards apart, shares in announcing "when you find a trail marker, yell out!"
Yes, knowing Werner was an experience. R I P, Werner

My favorite Werner story took place on a ski trip to Salt Lake City many years ago. Werner noticed that I feel in love with a stuffed Grizzly bear in a shop there. I kept thinking I was going to buy it but didn't. ON the return trip in the plane he showed me a receipt from the store showing he bought the bear. I was pissed. He said it was being transferred in the hold of the plane and his wife was meeting him at the airport to transport the bear to his home. All a joke of course. Jim Hornyak commented that Werner's cleaning lady would have a hard time dusting the bear. Also for the record he still owes me $20. WE had great times at our Friday lunches and I grew to really like that German.

My sincere condolences and prayers for comfort and strength during this time to the entire family.
Gerrie Berena