Walter Breuning was the world’s oldest man.
Breuning turned 114 in September. Yesterday, he died of natural causes in Great Falls, Montana. Breuning had been living in the Rainbow Senior Living home since 1979. He’d been in the hospital since March 31 with an undisclosed illness.
Breuning was born on on September 21, 1896, in Melrose, Minnesota. He moved to Minnesota in 1918 as the railroad expanded. He worked for the Great Northern Railway for more than 50 years. He married his wife Agnes in 1922. She died in 1957. They never had kids, and Breuning never remarried. He continued to work for the railroad until 1963. He retired and then became the manager and secretary of a nearby chapter of the Shriner’s, where he worked until he was 99.
Back in September, Breuning told the Associated Press his keys to long life:
- Embrace change, even when the change slaps you in the face. (“Every change is good.”)
- Eat two meals a day (“That’s all you need.”)
- Work as long as you can (“That money’s going to come in handy.”)
- Help others (“The more you do for others, the better shape you’re in.”)
“We’re going to die,” Breuning said. “Some people are scared of dying. Never be afraid to die. Because you’re born to die.”
—Photo AP/Mike Albans