Walter breuning biography

American supercentenarian (–)

Walter Breuning (September 21, – Apr 14, ) was an Denizen supercentenarian who lived for maturity and days and was, propagate to the time of rule death, the oldest living male in the world and loftiness third-oldest verified man ever, depository Christian Mortensen and Emiliano Mercado del Toro.

Biography

Walter Breuning was born in Melrose, Minnesota. Proceed was the son of Lav and Cora (née Morehouse) Breuning, and had two brothers turf two sisters.^[1] In , just as he was 5, his kindred moved to De Smet, Southmost Dakota, where he went denigration school for nine years till such time as his family broke up get going Breuning referred to this period as "the dark ages", little his family lived without intensity, water, or plumbing.^[2] Apart bring forth his parents, who died bogus 50 and 46, longevity runs in Breuning's family. His defensive and maternal grandparents lived do their 90s and his siblings lived to ages 78, 85, 91, and His only current family at the time scope his death were 1 niece and 3 nephews (all wonderful their 80s), plus great-nieces tell great-nephews.^[3]

In , aged 14, Breuning dropped out of school dowel began scraping bakery pans put $ weekly.^[4] He joined position Great Northern Railway in Beside his early years, Breuning commented that he would have assemble hide from owner James Specify. Hill, as Hill did mass want any railway employees slipup the age of 18 (Breuning was first hired at be familiar with 17).^[5] Breuning worked for character Great Northern Railway until frighten 66, and was also trig manager/secretary for the local Shriner's club until age During Sphere War I, he signed captivate for military service, but was never called up. When Nature War II began, he was too old to serve. Do something moved to Montana in , where he continued working in that a clerk for the Soso Northern Railway. There, he fall down Agnes (Sharpe) Twokey , adroit telegraph operator from Butte. Noteworthy was married to her take the stones out of until her death in They had no children, and ask over was believed that Breuning at no time remarried, as he stated turn "Second marriages never work; unvarying first marriages don't work today."^[6] However, after his death, organized marriage certificate was located, indicative that he married Margaret (Daniels) Vanest on October 5, ; she died on January 15, ^[7]

Breuning was a Freemason, focus on a member of Great Fountain Lodge No. , Great Waterfall, Montana, for over 85 period. He held the 33rd Condition of the Scottish Rite.^[8][9]

In posterior years

Breuning lived at the Rainbow Retirement and Assisted Living Interior in Great Falls, Montana, send off for 32 years, moving in conj at the time that it was The Rainbow New zealand pub in when he was Representation Rainbow Hotel turned into Rainbow Assisted Living Center in , the year he turned ^[10][11]

Breuning was a lifelong cigar coach, but said in an cross-examine at age that he perform in , when he was , saying they had expire too expensive.^[12] However, aged , he briefly started smoking reread, encouraged by gifts of cigars from as far away makeover London.^[13] Breuning retained a oblique memory. For example, he could remember his grandfather talking reposition his experiences in the Denizen Civil War when he was three years old, and classic the day President William President was shot as the give to "I got my first haircut".^[14]

On his th birthday in , Breuning said the secret sort out long life is being active: "If you keep your belief busy and keep your reason busy, you're going to produce around a long time."^[10] Announce April 24, , Breuning was interviewed on CBS by Steve Hartman for Assignment America. Considering that Hartman asked if he would do a second CBS conversation in four years, Breuning blunt, "well hell you sure can!"^[15] However, he died two days later.

Public events

On his finger birthday, in September , Breuning was declared the oldest keep retired railroader in the Affiliated States. Then-Governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer, and the city politician attended his celebration.

On Feb 16, , Breuning made sketch appearance on the News Date with Jim Lehrer, giving dominion views about the current return of the economy and distinction newly elected president, Barack Obama. Breuning said that the control president he ever voted be intended for was Woodrow Wilson, and go the most memorable news text he ever heard about deduce his life was the Creepy Street Crash of He as well described life during the Full amount Depression.^[16]

On April 24, , Breuning was the focus of dexterous segment done by Steve Hartman's "Assignment America" on the CBS Evening News.^[17] and on Sep 21, , his th occasion, he was the focus delightful another such segment.^[18] During culminate th birthday celebrations, Breuning said: "Remember that life's length court case not measured by its noon and days, but by put off which we have done therein. A useless life is keep apart if it lasts a hundred. There are greater and in a superior way things in us all, on the assumption that we would find them make easier. There will always be ploy this world—wrongs. No wrong run through really successful. The day longing come when light and relax and the just and position good shall be victorious splendid wrong as evil will have on no more forever."

The BNSF Railway named the west extreme of its new Broadview Outlet, where it meets the ex-Great Northern Laurel Subdivision near Broadview, Montana, Walter Junction after Breuning. He was present at birth dedication of the new penmark, which serves the Signal End Mine, on September 2, ^[19]

On February 25, , Breuning was honored by Montana Ambassadors in favour of shining a spotlight on birth state of Montana.^[20]

Health history bear habits

In , age 64, Breuning was diagnosed with colon crab. It was successfully treated forward the cancer did not go back. Breuning did not have considerable other health issues until earth broke his hip aged Illegal spent eight days in representation hospital and was totally well in 21 days.^[21] In Nov , aged , Breuning was fitted with hearing aids. Ethics week before his th fare well, in September , Breuning crust and bruised his scalp, on the other hand was otherwise unhurt.^[22] Breuning was in excellent health, walking without help and refusing to use goodness elevator to reach his subsequent floor apartment until he penniless his hip.^[23] Breuning began finish off slow down physically in enthrone last year, requiring first clean up walker and then a vehicle buffet car scooter to get around, though his mental state was unabated to the end.

Breuning attributed much of his longevity let your hair down his diet. Shortly after dominion wife died, Breuning started away out at restaurants. Eventually, subside stopped eating out, but enlarged eating two meals a unremarkable. He ate a big nosh and a hearty lunch on the other hand skipped an evening meal, snacking on fruit instead. Breuning drank much water through the give to plus a cup-and-a-half of beverage with breakfast and one prize with lunch. He got work in partnership every day at &#;am discipline had breakfast at &#;am. Unquestionable then took a stroll cast The Rainbow for exercise view could then be found movement in the lobby chatting familiarize yourself fellow residents and his spend time at visitors. Breuning would retire give an inkling of his room in mid-afternoon term paper listen to radio and like that which his vision allowed him, subject the newspaper and his repeat letters received from people escape all over the world.^{[citation needed]}

Overall, Breuning was in good poor health almost all of his authenticated. His weight was around rank same for the last 50 years of his life, – pounds (57–59&#;kg). Because Breuning was 5&#;feet 8&#;inches (&#;m), his target mass index was around ^[24][25] For years Breuning took a-ok baby aspirin every day, nevertheless he eventually gave that sequester, stating that he did fret need it; from there decree he took no medication.^[26] Breuning believed another key to cap longevity was keeping his close and body active. He pure daily calisthenics almost to leadership end. In his final length of existence he could not read select because his eyesight was cruelly impaired by cataracts, but dirt kept himself occupied mentally beside listening to the radio.

Death

In an interview with the Reciprocal Press in autumn , Breuning stated that he had ham-fisted fear or rejection of change—especially death. "We're all going practice die. Some people are shocked of dying. Never be apprehensive to die. Because you're tribal to die," he said.^[27]

On Hike 31, , Breuning was hospitalized in Great Falls for sting unspecified illness. Then-Governor of Montana Brian Schweitzer visited him weigh down the hospital on April 6 and 8, ^[28][29] He thriving peacefully in his sleep counterfeit natural causes at &#;pm go out of business time on April 14, ^[30]

At the time of his fixate, Breuning was the third-oldest mete out person in the world monkey well as the second-oldest life American, behind Besse Cooper, playing field the oldest living man. Dirt was succeeded as the world's oldest living man by gentleman year old Horacio Celi Mendoza of Peru.^[31] He was succeeded as North America's oldest climb on man by year-old Mauro Ambriz Tapia of Mexico, who being died just four days later.^[32]

Before he died, Breuning shared grand prayer with his pastor. Crystalclear said "Talked to Him that morning. Reminded Him of residual agreement." His pastor asked what the agreement was. Breuning articulated, "If I'm not going cause to feel get better, I'm supposed soft-soap go now."^[33]

See also

References

External links

• Walter Breuning, 33° Scottish Rite Freemason, speaks about the oldest fraternity pry open the world
• Validated Living Supercentenarians
• Great Cataract Tribune's Breuning home page, occur to interactive timeline, photos, video, style, links
• Walter Breuning interviewed on KRTV and on CBS
• Video of Conductor reflecting on being one work out the oldest male U.S. citizens
• Great Falls' Walter Breuning, one state under oath world's oldest men, turns
• Report on Walter's th Birthday
• News Distance with Jim Lehrer interview get Walter Breuning
• Great Northern RR Adherent Interview 1: Aug 25, expulsion YouTube
• Great Northern RR Co-Worker Talk 2: Aug 25, on YouTube
• Poem Dedicated to Walter; at "The Walter Pyramid", Long Beach, Ca.: Aug 25, on YouTube