Werner Blumenthal (1923-2005) was a German Jewish refugee who fled Nazi Germany in 1934 at age 11. His family was from Wagenheim, where his father, Solly (1898-1972), owned a trucking company. Solly first escaped to South Africa and then managed to get his wife Martha, along with daughter Margot and son Werner, out as well. Werner married Ella Vilnesky, the daughter of a butcher named Jack Vilnesky, who was married to Rose Engelberg. Rose was the sister of Gertie Engelberg, who married Benno Sussman. Rose and her sisters were originally from Tukums and raised in Riga before moving to South Africa. In fact, it was at Rose and Jack's home that Benno Sussman met Gertie Engelberg. Ella Blumenthal was born in 1932 and passed away in 2007. Both Ella and Werner are buried in Westpark Cemetery. 

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After finishing his schooling, Werner qualified as a mechanic. After marrying Ella in Johannesburg on March 28, 1954, they moved to Vryburg, where he worked for Die Boere Helpmekaar. While in Vryburg, their eldest son, Brian, was born in 1958. Later, the couple adopted a daughter named Roz. Roz eventually married the eldest son of Woolfie Sussman, who is the son of Benno and Gertie. After Vryburg, the family moved to Schweizer Reneke, then Standerton, and afterward Mafeking. Later, Werner worked for Atlas Aircraft, and the family settled in Pretoria.

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