Werner had been a permanent fixture in many of our lives – standing as firm as the mountains of his native Austria. After 86 fulfilling years, Werner moved on to be with his beloved wife, Danja. He will be missed by all of us. He leaves behind a legacy of lives touched and changed for the better.
Werner was born on April 4th 1939, in the village of Bezau. He had a simple but happy childhood, spending much of his time in the mountains surrounding his hometown. He had a weakness for chocolates and sweets, which were an exotic rarity in postwar, rural Austria. This enticed him to become a pastry chef, and he became a master of his trade, working at esteemed restaurants and cafes throughout Austria, Germany and Liechtenstein.
He also was a mountaineer and ski instructor and spent his winters giving private lessons at the exclusive ski resort of Lech. All the while, the ski industry in the United States was growing and Austrian ski instructors were in high demand. A colleague convinced him to spend a winter in the newly opened Clear Fork Ski Area in Butler, Ohio. Upon arrival, he realized that his colleague had not been fully forthcoming about the size of the hills and the dependability of natural snowfall – but Werner was smitten by the enthusiasm and warm-heartedness of the people, and he felt right at home. Within a few years, he became ski school director and then general manager.
One of his ski instructors, an eccentric but lovable German named Roland Haller, was often accompanied by his daughter Danja. As we all know, with Danja at Werner’s side, his life as we know it took flight. For so many years, he brought Austrian charm and style to central Ohio. All the while, he maintained his connection to his old home in Europe, and spent nearly every summer of his life there, together with Danja and their sons, Andy and Tony, and enjoyed the company of many good friends and loved ones.
He leaves behind a large void, but we are thankful for the impact he has had on all of us.
Calling hours will be held at Snyder Funeral Homes in Bellville, from 1-3pm on Thursday, August 21, 2025. A memorial service will follow beginning promptly at 3pm. Pastor Jay Hill will officiate. We welcome anyone who wishes to join us to make a visit and pay their respects. There will also be a memorial service at 2:00 pm on September 2, 2025 held in Klosterkirche in Werner’s native Bezau, Austria.
Snyder Funeral Homes, Bellville Chapel is honored to serve the Seidel family. To leave a condolence or share a message to the family please visit Werner’s obituary page at www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home, Bellville Butler Chapel
Website: www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com