An Elyria man got the ultimate birthday gift June 19 with a declaration to recognize his birthday as “Walt Westermann Day.”
Walter Westermann Sr., resident of Wesleyan Village at 807 West Ave. in Elyria, rang in his 105th birthday with a party complete with birthday cake and party favors, as well as a visit from Elyria Mayor Holly Brinda.
“It’s a good feeling to know that people want to celebrate with you on such an auspicious occasion,” Westermann said.
Brinda honored Westermann, who was born in 1914, with a proclamation and spoke of his accomplishments.
“I am very honored to be here on behalf of the city and to be invited to this very important celebration,” she said. “Imagine what Mr. Westermann has seen in his lifetime, from horse and buggy to the moon (landing).”
Westermann’s beginnings were humble, having been born and raised in St. Matthews, Ky., where he worked on his family’s farm growing potatoes and corn.
While attending college for pre-theological ministry, Westermann was called to serve in the Air Force during World War II, working mainly with supply and materials in the United States.
He was stationed at a variety of different bases including those in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas and Alabama.
Westermann said he worked five or six different jobs throughout his life, including with a packaging company and in landscaping.
He met his wife, Janet, in Mount Vernon, Ohio, in 1936 and they married in 1944.
The two spent 67 years married before Janet Westermann passed away eight years ago.
The couple has one son, Walter Westmann Jr., 72, of Grafton, who attended his father’s birthday celebration.
Additionally, the elder Westermann has participated in numerous different organizations, including the National Senior Games, Kiwanis International Club and various boards at Wesleyan Village.
With the Kiwanis, he served as North Olmsted’s president for four years, was voted district lieutenant governor of Ohio’s 14th district and had 14 different clubs under his supervision.
Having first participated in 1994, he has now accumulated 110 gold, silver and bronze medals at the Senior Games and has participated in events like shuffle board, bowling, gold, badminton, running and horse shoes, which he played as a child on his farm.
In 1999, he won a national gold medal for golf.
At the village, Westermann has been the association’s president, an ambassador and on the executive board, as well as participating on the building and grounds, dining and hospitality and outreach committees.
He said he contributes his luck with good health to his community involvement and active lifestyle.
“I always say that one of the contributions of my longevity and good health was the fact that I was active and I maintained activity and I maintained association in different things,” Westermann said.
He said his lifestyle was instilled in him at a young age, when his family set an example in living in moderation.
“Everything that we did, there was an extent to which you didn’t go beyond, even our eating and our sleeping,” Westermann said.
Although he can attribute a few factors in his long and prosperous life, Westermann said he doesn’t have all the answers.
“I would say it’s a secret, and I don’t know what it is,” he said.
