In Honor of Lewis Gudmundsen

Our brother in faith and our dear friend Lewis Gudmundsen passed unexpectedly to the spirit word on January 9, at 2:30 am. We want to support his beloved wife, Hildegard, and son, Siegfried, as they are faced with the sudden reality of saying goodbye to their husband and father. Let’s offer our support easing the financial burden of funeral and medical expenses.

We treasure Lewis for his dedication to God and being a loving husband and proud father. We fondly remember his contribution to our daily morning devotion and passion for the AhnShi Il prayer tradition and studying scripture.

Lewis Gudmundsen was born on December 16, 1948, in Mobile, Alabama, as the youngest of his family—16 years younger than his oldest siblings. His early years were marked by a significant and painful event. At just 13 years old, Lewis witnessed the sudden passing of his father on Christmas Eve in 1961, a moment that profoundly affected his faith and understanding of God’s love.

In the wake of his father's death, Lewis and his mother moved to Los Angeles, California. As he grew older, he pursued his education at the University of San Francisco, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1971. But his path took a transformative turn when, in 1974, he encountered the Unification Church in Oakland, California. Shortly thereafter, he joined the MFT (Mobile Fundraising Team), where he brought tremendous dedication and results to the mission.

Lewis’s journey took him to the Unification Theological Seminary, where he was part of the second graduating class from 1976 to 1978. In 1978, he accepted a Home Church mission in England, where he became Center Leader in Bristol. It was in England that he met Hildegard Eisenhut, an Austrian church member, at the European Matching in London. This encounter led to their union, and they were matched to be married.

After returning to the U.S. to attend the funerals of his older sister and brother, Lewis worked in several roles, including in accounting at ILHWA Korean Ginseng Tea Company and the International Relief Friendship Foundation (IRFF). Later, he contributed to the News World organization before he became involved with Ocean Church, eventually serving as the Center Leader in Montauk, Long Island, New York.

In 1982, the year he worked at Sunlight Graphics, Lewis and Hildegard received the Marriage Blessing at Madison Square Garden as part of the 2075 couples Blessing Ceremony. From that moment on, they worked together with a Home Church team in Woodside, Queens for community outreach. Lewis also worked for a time at New World Marine, from 2003 to 2004.

A lover of deep study and reflection, Lewis dedicated much of his life to researching and sharing the words of True Parents. He frequently wrote articles and shared them to encourage others in their spiritual journey. Lewis had a special gift for witnessing—he engaged with people in everyday settings, like shopping centers and restaurants, or when driving for Lyft and Uber.

At the age of 65, Lewis and Hildegard received the blessing of an offering child, fulfilling their long-held desire to become parents and to establish a family with God at the center. Their son Siegfried became the pride and joy of Lewis’s life, and he dedicated everything to creating a loving, safe environment for his family.

In his final years, Lewis remained a faithful son of God and True Parents, a loving husband to Hildegard, and a devoted father to Siegfried. His passion for his faith, his love for his family, and his commitment to a life centered around God’s will are what we will cherish and carry with us.

Rest in peace, dear Lewis. You will forever be in our hearts.