Gustav Gerneth

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Gustav Gerneth (born October 15, 1905 in Stettin , German Reich ; † October 21, 2019 in Havelberg ) was a German supercentenarian and possibly the oldest living man since Masazo Nonaka's death on January 20, 2019 . In addition, at 114 years of age, he was the oldest German man. However, his date of birth has not been scientifically verified by any of the relevant institutions such as the Gerontology Research Group .

Life

Gustav Gerneth learned the trade of machine fitter . With the aim of becoming a machinist, he completed the required years of service in a shipping company in order to receive his patent in 1924 . He worked for several years in maritime and inland shipping , including on a screw steamer on the Havel . In 1930 he met his future wife there, whom he married in Havelberg that same year . Together they had three sons born in the 1930s. When the boys reached school age, the family moved to his hometown. Gustav Gerneth worked as an aircraft and flight mechanic. During the Second World War he did his military service and was taken prisoner by the Soviets , from which he was released in 1947. From 1948 until his retirement in 1972 he worked in a Havelberg gas works .

His wife Charlotte died in 1988; his three sons died before him in the 2010s. A granddaughter died of a serious illness. Gustav Gerneth lived in his own apartment in Havelberg near Stendal . On his 109th birthday, he was largely in charge of his household, but relatives looked after him. On his 112th birthday, his granddaughter stated that he was still mentally fit and enjoyed watching football.

As a secret for his long life, Gerneth said:

“I've always lived and ate well. No diet. Always butter, not margarine. I haven't touched a cigarette in my life and only drank alcohol to celebrate. "

He was the oldest living person in Germany since 2016 and the oldest living person of German origin since 2017. Also in 2017, he replaced Hermann Dörnemann (1893–2005) as the oldest German man of all time. On October 12, 2018, he became the oldest person who ever lived in Germany. Only Augusta Holtz (1871–1986) and Charlotte Benkner (1889–2004) were older than him among people born in Germany. However, they emigrated to the USA in the course of their lives and lived and died there in old age. Since the death of the Japanese Masazo Nonaka (* July 25, 1905, † January 20, 2019), he has been considered a contender for the Guinness World Records title of the oldest living man in the world, subject to the verification of his age .

Gustav Gerneth died in his sleep on October 21, 2019 at the age of 114 in his apartment in Havelberg.

Web links

literature

  • Rei Gesing with Gustav Gerneth: The wisdom of 100-year-olds - 7 questions to the oldest people in Germany - With a foreword by Simone Rethel-Heesters , (= MonoLit. Volume 1) Solibro Verlag, Münster 2018, chapter about Gustav Gerneth from page 126 , ISBN 978-3-96079-061-7 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ 114-year-old from Havelberg died. In: Volksstimme , October 22, 2019. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  2. ^ Obituary notice in Volksstimme
  3. ↑ World's oldest man, Masazo Nonaka, dies at his home in Japan aged 113. Retrieved January 27, 2019 .
  4. ↑ Gustav Gerneth is 113: The oldest man in the world comes from Saxony-Anhalt , rtl.de, January 21, 2019
  5. ↑ Andrea Schröder: The oldest German celebrates his 113th birthday. In: volksstimme.de . October 10, 2018, accessed January 21, 2019.
  6. ^ A b Andrea Schröder: The oldest German is a Havelberger. In: volksstimme.de. October 15, 2016, accessed April 11, 2018 .
  7. ↑ Germany's oldest man: 111 years! This is how Gustav Gerneth celebrates his birthday . In: Mitteldeutsche Zeitung . ( mz-web.de [accessed on April 11, 2018]).
  8. ↑ Andrea Schröder, Volksstimme Magdeburg: The last wish of the oldest man. Retrieved October 26, 2019 .
  9. ↑ Gustav Gerneth from Havelberg is the oldest German . In: bild.de . ( bild.de [accessed on April 11, 2018]).
  10. ↑ Even at 112, Gustav Gerneth is still a football fan . In: www.t-online.de . ( t-online.de [accessed on April 11, 2018]).
  11. ↑ Volksstimme advertising market> Market selection. Retrieved October 26, 2019 .
  12. ↑ Andrea Schröder: 114-year-old from Havelberg died. In: Volksstimme . October 22, 2019, accessed October 23, 2019 .
personal data
SURNAME Gerneth, Gustav
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German supercentenarian, oldest living man
DATE OF BIRTH October 15, 1905
PLACE OF BIRTH Szczecin
DATE OF DEATH October 21, 2019
Place of death Havelberg