Lieutenant Colonel Werner Unzelmann, age 86, passed away at his home in Cape May on September 15, 2025. He was born in Newark, N.J., to Otto and Johanna Unzelmann. He was raised in north central Pennsylvania (Wyalusing).
During this time, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout; the first within the community. After graduating from high school, he attended Penn State University and Loyola College in Baltimore, Md., where he graduated with honors.
Werner entered the Army in 1962 and received a military commission in 1964. He went on to have a rewarding career in the United States Army Security Agency which later became the US Army Intelligence and Security Command.
During his 23-year Army tenure, he served in Germany, twice in Vietnam, and Korea. His state-side assignments included the Army General Staff at the Pentagon, the National Security Agency, Fort Meade, Md., and the Armed Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Va.
Prior to his retirement, he was the Battalion Commander of the NSA Support Battalion at Fort Meade. His most prestigious awards for distinguished service include the Legion of Merit for his standard of excellence and service as Battalion Commander; two Bronze Star medals for meritorious achievement in support of intelligence operations against hostile forces in the Republic of Vietnam; two Joint Service Commendation medals for outstanding achievement in support of the mission of the National Security Agency; and the Meritorious Service Medal while serving at the Pentagon on the Army General Staff.
Werner, having served his country honorably, retired from the Army in 1985. The dedication and patriotism he learned in the Army never left him, as friends and family will attest.
After his military service he spent the next 23 years with the Boeing Co. and the Science Application International Corp. in key management positions, providing intelligence and information technology support to various government agencies. Werner fully retired in 2010.
He had a passion for sailing. Werner and his wife spent many weekends sailing the Chesapeake Bay. He also spent time with family, renovating their home and assisting at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May.
He is survived by his wife Glenda; they were married for 63 years prior to his passing. He is also survived by his three daughters, Christiana Wert (Brian), Susanna Riecks (Randy) and Andrea Putnam; and four grandchildren, Jacob Putnam, Maxwell Putnam, Cooper Wert and Sophia Wert.
Werner was a true patriot, loving husband, father and Opa. A private memorial service to be held by the immediate family.
