Jan Goossenaerts
Encyclopedia
Joannes "Jan" Aloïsius Goossenaerts (born 30 October 1900) is a Belgian supercentenarian
. Since the death of Stanley Lucas of the United Kingdom
he has been the oldest living man in Europe
. He is currently the world's third-oldest living man. The Gerontology Research Group
(GRG) lists him as the fifty-six oldest living supercentenarian. Goossenaerts is one of only two living men verified by (GRG) to have been born in 1900.
Goossenaerts married Catharina Van Meel (18 August 1909 – 2 July 1997) on 18 January 1930. They were married for 67 years, until her death. They had five children: Irma (78) and Marcel (74) are deceased. Maria, Frans and Jozef are still living.
He worked as a mason and retired at the age of 65.
, Antwerp, since 2007. He took up residence there at age 106. Goossenaerts is in good shape and still walks every day in the yard of the nursing home. He has reported that his secret to longevity is to work hard and eat two slices of bread with pear syrup every morning.
On 18 January 2011, Goossenaerts became the oldest Belgian ever born, surpassing Louis Marion at 110 years, 79 days. On 20 May 2011, Goossenaerts, aged 110 years 202 days, became one of the 100 oldest men on record. He is one of only 69 men to have ever reached the age of 111.
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
. Since the death of Stanley Lucas of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
he has been the oldest living man in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He is currently the world's third-oldest living man. The Gerontology Research Group
Gerontology Research Group
The 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...
(GRG) lists him as the fifty-six oldest living supercentenarian. Goossenaerts is one of only two living men verified by (GRG) to have been born in 1900.
Biography
Goossenaerts was born in the town of Horendonk-Essen (Province of Antwerp) to Josephus "Jozef" Goossenaerts and Joanna Van Ginneken.Goossenaerts married Catharina Van Meel (18 August 1909 – 2 July 1997) on 18 January 1930. They were married for 67 years, until her death. They had five children: Irma (78) and Marcel (74) are deceased. Maria, Frans and Jozef are still living.
He worked as a mason and retired at the age of 65.
Life
Goossenaerts has lived in a nursing home in EssenEssen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
, Antwerp, since 2007. He took up residence there at age 106. Goossenaerts is in good shape and still walks every day in the yard of the nursing home. He has reported that his secret to longevity is to work hard and eat two slices of bread with pear syrup every morning.
On 18 January 2011, Goossenaerts became the oldest Belgian ever born, surpassing Louis Marion at 110 years, 79 days. On 20 May 2011, Goossenaerts, aged 110 years 202 days, became one of the 100 oldest men on record. He is one of only 69 men to have ever reached the age of 111.
See also
- List of Belgian supercentenarians
- List of European supercentenarians
- List of living supercentenarians
- List of oldest living 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...