Hans A. Werberg

Hans Werberg passed away on Saturday, February 10th, 2018.  Hans was born on February 15th, 1931 in Minden, Germany.  At the age of 8 years old, his parents arranged for him to escape Nazi Germany by a boat to England.  This was part of an organized effort by the people of England, called the Kindertransport, to rescue Jewish children, after the Night of Broken Glass (Kristallnacht.) 

When he first arrived in England, he lived with two different families.  They were conscientious objectors to the War.  Hans then went to live in a Jewish Refugee Home for Boys.  He quickly learned English at that young age, and always retained a British accent. 

At the age of 16, Hans emigrated to the United States aboard the SS Marine Jumper.  He was the only member of his immediate family to survive the Holocaust. 

After arriving in New York, he went to live in Norfolk, Virginia.  On November 24, 1952, Hans became a Christian, after attending a Salvation Army meeting.  He went on to graduate from Tennessee Temple University, in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  His Jewish heritage and his Christian faith were equally important to him, and he served with the American Board of Missions to the Jews for many years. 

Hans was working for the ABMJ at the Worlds' Fair in 1965 at Flushing Meadows Park when he met Phyllis Schuman, who was also a Jewish Christian.  They were married on January 21st, 1967 and had five children whom they raised in Elmont, NY.  They were members of Bellerose Baptist Church for many years, and in recent years have been members of Bible Baptist Church of Elmont, NY. 

He later worked as a porter and was a member of Teamsters Local 257.

He is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Phyllis, his five children and their spouses, Bella (and Brian), Sam (and Denise), Leo (and Allison), Debbie (and Ambi), Jon (and Helene), and his seven grandchildren (Ava, Janiya, Jeremiah, Dylan, Max, Sarabeth and Peter).  In his twilight years, his grandchildren visited him regularly and brought him great joy.  He once said that at 8 years old he did not think he would live to see his 9th Birthday.  Instead, he lived to be over 86 years old.  Despite the tragedy of the loss of his parents, he managed to retain a sense of humor and joy about life.  He was a man of great integrity, adored by his children, and deeply admired by those who loved him.

Services will be held from 4 - 9 p.m. on Thursday, February 15th, 2018, at Bible Baptist Church, located at 779 Elmont Road in Elmont, NY 11003. 

Condolences may be e-mailed to d_w_caimares@yahoo.com.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a gift in memory of Hans to Bible Baptist Church, or feel free to buy yourself a cup of coffee and an Apple Strudel, read the Comics in the newspaper, and remember Hans.

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