Walter Breuning
Encyclopedia
Walter Breuning 1896 2011) was an American
supercentenarian
. He was the last known surviving man who was born in 1896. Breuning is the oldest undisputed American-born man on record. He was the last verified American man born in the 19th Century. At the time of his death, Breuning was the third oldest undisputed man ever, and one of the 50 undisputed oldest people ever. He remains one of only six verified and undisputed men to have reached age 114.
. He was the son of John Breuning and Cora Morehouse Breuning, and had two brothers and two sisters. In 1901 when he was 5, his family moved to De Smet, South Dakota
, where he went to school for nine years until his family broke up in 1910. Breuning referred to this time as "the dark ages", as his family lived without electricity, water, or plumbing. Apart from his parents who died at 50 and 46, longevity runs in Breuning's family. His paternal and maternal grandparents lived into their 90s and his siblings lived to ages 78, 85, 91 and 100. His only surviving family are 1 niece and 3 nephews all now in their 80s, plus great nieces and nephews.
In 1910 aged 14, Breuning dropped out of school and began scraping bakery pans for $2.50 weekly. He joined the Great Northern Railway in 1913, working for it for more than fifty years. During his early years, Breuning commented that he would have to hide from owner James J. Hill
, as Hill did not want any railroad employees under the age of 18 (Breuning was first hired at age 17). Breuning worked for the Great Northern Railway until age 66, and was also a manager/secretary for the local Shriner's club until age 99. During World War I
, he signed up for military service, but was never called up. When World War II
broke out, he was too old to serve. He moved to Montana in 1918, where he continued working as a clerk for the Great Northern Railway. There, he met Agnes Twokey, a telegraph operator from Butte
. He was married to her from 1922 until her death in 1957. They had no children and Breuning was believed to have never married again, as he stated that "Second marriages never work; even first marriages don't work today.” However, after his death, a marriage certificate was located, revealing that he married Margaret Vanest on October 5, 1958. Margaret died on January 15, 1975.
Breuning was a Freemason, and a member of Great Falls Lodge No. 118, Great Falls, Montana, for over 85 years. He held the 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite.
for 32 years, moving in when it was 'The Rainbow Hotel' in 1979 when he was 83. The Rainbow Hotel turned into Rainbow Assisted Living Center in 1996.
Each year starting with his 100th, The Rainbow held a Birthday Party for Breuning. As he became older and especially after gaining the title of Oldest Living Man in July 2009 the world media flocked to these occasions, if only to hear Breuning's annual birthday speech.
Breuning was a lifelong cigar smoker, but says in an interview at age 110 that he quit in 1999 when he was 103, saying they had become too expensive. However, at the age of 108 he briefly started smoking again, encouraged by gifts of cigars from as far away as London. Breuning retained a sharp memory. For example, he could remember his grandfather talking about his experiences in the American Civil War
when he was three years old, and remembered the day President William McKinley
was shot as the day "I got my first haircut".
On his 112th birthday, Breuning said the secret to long life is being active: "If you keep your mind busy and keep your body busy, you're going to be around a long time."
Breuning dressed in a suit and tie every day. On April 24, 2009, at the age of 112, Breuning was interviewed on CBS by Steve Hartman for Assignment America. When asked by Hartman if he would do a second CBS interview in four years, Breuning said, "Well hell you sure can!"
, Brian Schweitzer
, and the city mayor attended his celebration.
On February 16, 2009, Breuning made an appearance on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, giving his views about the current state of the economy and the newly elected president. Breuning said that the first president he ever voted for was Woodrow Wilson
, and that the most memorable news item he ever heard about in his life was the stock market crash of 1929. He also described life during the Great Depression
.
On April 24, 2009, Breuning was the focus of a segment done by Steve Hartman's "Assignment America" on the CBS Evening News
. and on September 21, 2009, he was the focus of another such segment. During his 113th birthday celebrations, Breuning said: "Remember that life's length is not measured by its hours and days, but by that which we have done therein. A useless life is short if it lasts a century. There are greater and better things in us all, if we would find them out. There will always be in this world - wrongs. No wrong is really successful. The day will come when light and truth and the just and the good shall be victorious and wrong as evil will be no more forever."
The BNSF Railway
named the west end of its new Broadview Subdivision, where it meets the ex-Great Northern Laurel Subdivision near Broadview, Montana
, Walter Junction after Breuning. He was present at the dedication of the new line, which serves the Signal Peak Mine, on September 2, 2009.
On February 25, 2010, Breuning was honored by Montana Ambassadors for shining a spotlight on the state of Montana
.
Breuning attributed much of his longevity to his diet. Shortly after his wife died, Breuning started eating out at restaurants. Eventually, he stopped eating out, but continued eating two meals a day. He ate a big breakfast and a hearty lunch but skipped an evening meal, snacking on fruit instead. Breuning drank lots of water through the day plus a cup and a half of coffee with breakfast and one cup with lunch. He got up every day at 6:15 a.m. and had breakfast at 7:30 a.m. He then took a stroll around The Rainbow for exercise and could then be found sitting in the lobby chatting with fellow residents and his many visitors. Breuning would retire to his room in mid-afternoon to listen to radio and when his vision allowed him, read the newspaper and his many letters received from people from all over the world.
Overall, Breuning was in good health almost all of his life. His weight was around the same for the last 50 years of his life, 125–130 lb (56.7–59 kg). Because Breuning was 5 in 8 in (1.73 m), his body mass index
was around 19. For years Breuning took a baby aspirin
everyday, but he eventually gave that up stating that he didn't need it, from there on he took no medication. Breuning believed another key to his longevity was keeping his mind and body active, not retiring until the age of 99. He performed daily calisthenics
almost to the end. He could not read well because his eyesight was badly impaired by cataracts, but he kept himself occupied mentally by listening to the radio.
On March 31, 2011, Breuning was hospitalized for an unspecified illness, thought to be pneumonia. The Governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer
, visited the state's oldest resident in the hospital on April 6 and 8, 2011.
Breuning died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes in a Great Falls hospital at 3:30 p.m. local time on April 14, 2011. He had been hospitalized since the beginning of the month with an undisclosed illness. At the time of his death, he was the 3rd oldest living person in the world, and the oldest male.
Before he died, Breuning shared a prayer with his pastor. He said "Talked to him this morning. Reminded him of our agreement." His pastor asked what the agreement was. He said, "If I'm not going to get better, I'm supposed to go now."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
supercentenarian
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
. He was the last known surviving man who was born in 1896. Breuning is the oldest undisputed American-born man on record. He was the last verified American man born in the 19th Century. At the time of his death, Breuning was the third oldest undisputed man ever, and one of the 50 undisputed oldest people ever. He remains one of only six verified and undisputed men to have reached age 114.
Biography
Walter Breuning was born in Melrose, MinnesotaMelrose, Minnesota
Melrose is a city in Stearns County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,598 at the 2010 census. It is part of the St. Cloud Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. He was the son of John Breuning and Cora Morehouse Breuning, and had two brothers and two sisters. In 1901 when he was 5, his family moved to De Smet, South Dakota
De Smet, South Dakota
-External links:* * * * *...
, where he went to school for nine years until his family broke up in 1910. Breuning referred to this time as "the dark ages", as his family lived without electricity, water, or plumbing. Apart from his parents who died at 50 and 46, longevity runs in Breuning's family. His paternal and maternal grandparents lived into their 90s and his siblings lived to ages 78, 85, 91 and 100. His only surviving family are 1 niece and 3 nephews all now in their 80s, plus great nieces and nephews.
In 1910 aged 14, Breuning dropped out of school and began scraping bakery pans for $2.50 weekly. He joined the Great Northern Railway in 1913, working for it for more than fifty years. During his early years, Breuning commented that he would have to hide from owner James J. Hill
James J. Hill
James Jerome Hill , was a Canadian-American railroad executive. He was the chief executive officer of a family of lines headed by the Great Northern Railway, which served a substantial area of the Upper Midwest, the northern Great Plains, and Pacific Northwest...
, as Hill did not want any railroad employees under the age of 18 (Breuning was first hired at age 17). Breuning worked for the Great Northern Railway until age 66, and was also a manager/secretary for the local Shriner's club until age 99. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, he signed up for military service, but was never called up. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, he was too old to serve. He moved to Montana in 1918, where he continued working as a clerk for the Great Northern Railway. There, he met Agnes Twokey, a telegraph operator from Butte
Butte, Montana
Butte is a city in Montana and the county seat of Silver Bow County, United States. In 1977, the city and county governments consolidated to form the sole entity of Butte-Silver Bow. As of the 2010 census, Butte's population was 34,200...
. He was married to her from 1922 until her death in 1957. They had no children and Breuning was believed to have never married again, as he stated that "Second marriages never work; even first marriages don't work today.” However, after his death, a marriage certificate was located, revealing that he married Margaret Vanest on October 5, 1958. Margaret died on January 15, 1975.
Breuning was a Freemason, and a member of Great Falls Lodge No. 118, Great Falls, Montana, for over 85 years. He held the 33rd Degree of the Scottish Rite.
In later years
Breuning lived at the Rainbow Retirement and Assisted Living Center in Great Falls, MontanaGreat Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
for 32 years, moving in when it was 'The Rainbow Hotel' in 1979 when he was 83. The Rainbow Hotel turned into Rainbow Assisted Living Center in 1996.
Each year starting with his 100th, The Rainbow held a Birthday Party for Breuning. As he became older and especially after gaining the title of Oldest Living Man in July 2009 the world media flocked to these occasions, if only to hear Breuning's annual birthday speech.
Breuning was a lifelong cigar smoker, but says in an interview at age 110 that he quit in 1999 when he was 103, saying they had become too expensive. However, at the age of 108 he briefly started smoking again, encouraged by gifts of cigars from as far away as London. Breuning retained a sharp memory. For example, he could remember his grandfather talking about his experiences in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
when he was three years old, and remembered the day President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
was shot as the day "I got my first haircut".
On his 112th birthday, Breuning said the secret to long life is being active: "If you keep your mind busy and keep your body busy, you're going to be around a long time."
Breuning dressed in a suit and tie every day. On April 24, 2009, at the age of 112, Breuning was interviewed on CBS by Steve Hartman for Assignment America. When asked by Hartman if he would do a second CBS interview in four years, Breuning said, "Well hell you sure can!"
Public events
On his 110th birthday, in September 2006, Breuning was declared the oldest living retired railroader in the United States. The Governor of MontanaMontana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
, Brian Schweitzer
Brian Schweitzer
Brian David Schweitzer is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60...
, and the city mayor attended his celebration.
On February 16, 2009, Breuning made an appearance on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, giving his views about the current state of the economy and the newly elected president. Breuning said that the first president he ever voted for was Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, and that the most memorable news item he ever heard about in his life was the stock market crash of 1929. He also described life during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
.
On April 24, 2009, Breuning was the focus of a segment done by Steve Hartman's "Assignment America" on the CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
. and on September 21, 2009, he was the focus of another such segment. During his 113th birthday celebrations, Breuning said: "Remember that life's length is not measured by its hours and days, but by that which we have done therein. A useless life is short if it lasts a century. There are greater and better things in us all, if we would find them out. There will always be in this world - wrongs. No wrong is really successful. The day will come when light and truth and the just and the good shall be victorious and wrong as evil will be no more forever."
The BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
named the west end of its new Broadview Subdivision, where it meets the ex-Great Northern Laurel Subdivision near Broadview, Montana
Broadview, Montana
Broadview is a town in Yellowstone County, Montana, United States. The population was 150 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Broadview is located at ....
, Walter Junction after Breuning. He was present at the dedication of the new line, which serves the Signal Peak Mine, on September 2, 2009.
On February 25, 2010, Breuning was honored by Montana Ambassadors for shining a spotlight on the state of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
Health history and habits
In 1960, age 64, Breuning was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was successfully treated and did not return. Breuning did not have any other health issues until he broke his hip at the age of 108. He spent eight days in the hospital and was totally healed in 21 days. In November 2007 at the age of 111, Breuning was fitted with hearing aids. The week before his 113th birthday in September 2009, Breuning fell and bruised his scalp, but was otherwise unhurt. Breuning was in excellent health, walking unaided and refusing to use the elevator to reach his second floor apartment until he broke his hip. Breuning began to slow down physically in his last year, requiring first a walker and then a motor scooter to get around although his mental state was undiminished to the end.Breuning attributed much of his longevity to his diet. Shortly after his wife died, Breuning started eating out at restaurants. Eventually, he stopped eating out, but continued eating two meals a day. He ate a big breakfast and a hearty lunch but skipped an evening meal, snacking on fruit instead. Breuning drank lots of water through the day plus a cup and a half of coffee with breakfast and one cup with lunch. He got up every day at 6:15 a.m. and had breakfast at 7:30 a.m. He then took a stroll around The Rainbow for exercise and could then be found sitting in the lobby chatting with fellow residents and his many visitors. Breuning would retire to his room in mid-afternoon to listen to radio and when his vision allowed him, read the newspaper and his many letters received from people from all over the world.
Overall, Breuning was in good health almost all of his life. His weight was around the same for the last 50 years of his life, 125–130 lb (56.7–59 kg). Because Breuning was 5 in 8 in (1.73 m), his body mass index
Body mass index
The body mass index , or Quetelet index, is a heuristic proxy for human body fat based on an individual's weight and height. BMI does not actually measure the percentage of body fat. It was invented between 1830 and 1850 by the Belgian polymath Adolphe Quetelet during the course of developing...
was around 19. For years Breuning took a baby aspirin
Aspirin
Aspirin , also known as acetylsalicylic acid , is a salicylate drug, often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, as an antipyretic to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was discovered by Arthur Eichengrun, a chemist with the German company Bayer...
everyday, but he eventually gave that up stating that he didn't need it, from there on he took no medication. Breuning believed another key to his longevity was keeping his mind and body active, not retiring until the age of 99. He performed daily calisthenics
Calisthenics
Calisthenics are a form of aerobic exercise consisting of a variety of simple, often rhythmical, movements, generally using multiple equipment or apparatus. They are intended to increase body strength and flexibility with movements such as bending, jumping, swinging, twisting or kicking, using...
almost to the end. He could not read well because his eyesight was badly impaired by cataracts, but he kept himself occupied mentally by listening to the radio.
On March 31, 2011, Breuning was hospitalized for an unspecified illness, thought to be pneumonia. The Governor of Montana, Brian Schweitzer
Brian Schweitzer
Brian David Schweitzer is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60...
, visited the state's oldest resident in the hospital on April 6 and 8, 2011.
Death
In an interview with the Associated Press in autumn 2010, Breuning stated that he had no fear or rejection of change – especially death. "We're all going to die. Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die. Because you're born to die," he said.Breuning died peacefully in his sleep of natural causes in a Great Falls hospital at 3:30 p.m. local time on April 14, 2011. He had been hospitalized since the beginning of the month with an undisclosed illness. At the time of his death, he was the 3rd oldest living person in the world, and the oldest male.
Before he died, Breuning shared a prayer with his pastor. He said "Talked to him this morning. Reminded him of our agreement." His pastor asked what the agreement was. He said, "If I'm not going to get better, I'm supposed to go now."
Longevity records
- On September 23, 2006, Breuning, aged 110 years, 2 days, was added to the Gerontology Research GroupGerontology Research GroupThe Gerontology Research Group was started in 1990, and is a global eGroup of researchers in gerontology, some of who also meet monthly at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. The primary function of the group is to further gerontology research, with the objective of reversing or retarding aging...
list for Guinness World Records. - On December 27, 2008, George Francis died; Breuning, aged 112 years, 97 days, became the oldest living verified man in the United States.
- On July 18, 2009, Henry AllinghamHenry AllinghamHenry William Allingham was a British supercentenarian, First World War veteran and, for one month, the verified oldest living man in the world...
died; Breuning, aged 112 years, 300 days, became the oldest living verified man in the world. - On November 19, 2009, Chiyo Shiraishi died and Breuning entered the list of the 10 oldest living people in the world.
- On June 23, 2010, Breuning, aged 113 years, 275 days, became one of the 10 verified oldest men ever.
- On September 11, 2010, Breuning, aged 113 years, 355 days, surpassed Fred Hale to become the oldest undisputed American-born male ever.
- On September 21, 2010, Breuning became the 5th undisputed recorded man in history to reach the age of 114.
- On September 30, 2010, Breuning, aged 114 years, 9 days, became the oldest person ever to be born in the state of MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. - On January 31, 2011, Eunice Sanborn died; Breuning, aged 114 years, 132 days, became the 2nd oldest living person in the world.
- On March 23, 2011, Breuning, aged 114 years, 183 days, became one of the 50 verified oldest people ever.
- On March 30, 2011, Breuning, aged 114 years, 190 days, surpassed Yukichi ChuganjiYukichi Chuganjiwas a Japanese supercentenarian and "...was recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest man..." in Japan until his death at age 114 years 189 days....
to become the 3rd oldest undisputed man ever. - On April 14, 2011, Breuning died, aged 114 years, 205 days, as the 43rd verified oldest person and the 3rd oldest undisputed man ever.
- On May 18, 2011, Maria Gomes ValentimMaria Gomes ValentimMaria Gomes Valentim was a Brazilian supercentenarian who died at the age of 114 years 347 days. She was the oldest verified living person in the world from the time her age was validated on 18 May 2011 until her death a little more than a month later...
of Brazil is verified and recognised as the oldest living person, and Walter Breuning was now recognised as the 3rd oldest person since the death of Eunice Sanborn on January 31, 2011, and dying as the 44th verified oldest person ever.
See also
- List of supercentenarians from the United States
- List of the verified oldest men
- List of the verified oldest people
- List of oldest people by nation
- Oldest peopleOldest peopleThis is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
External links
- Walter Breuning, 33° Scottish Rite Freemason, speaks about the oldest fraternity in the world
- Validated Living Supercentenarians
- The Oldest Human Beings
- Great Falls Tribune's Breuning home page, with interactive timeline, photos, video, articles, links
- Walter Breuning interviewed on KRTV and on CBS
- Video of Walter reflecting on being one of the oldest male U.S. citizens
- Great Falls' Walter Breuning, one of world's oldest men, turns 111
- Report on Walter's 112th Birthday
- News Hour with Jim Lehrer interview with Walter Breuning