Wisconsin’s oldest living resident, Oshkosh's Ruth Stryzewski, shares keys to long life as she turns 112
OSHKOSH ― Wisconsin’s oldest living resident has reached another milestone.
Father Time has got nothing on Ruth Stryzewski, as “Aunt Esther” continues to keep the good times rolling after recently celebrating her 112th birthday.
Revealing the key to long life is wine, prayer and chocolate, Ruth is still very much an active resident at Park View Health Center in Oshkosh, where she remains in good health and still spends time outdoors during the summer.
“I feel amazed and lucky to have her around,” said nephew David Misterek, who lovingly refers to her as “Aunt Esther” because her father started calling Ruth by her middle name.
“My mother also spent years with her in the same nursing home and she lived to be 103 years old, so we would visit both of them together and have a lot of family gatherings at the health center with them," Misterek said.
“We just enjoy the time to be together and it’s great that we can continue to have that,” he added.
Oshkosh vet takes trip to Super Bowl: Oshkosh veteran shares Super Bowl experience, meeting ‘regular Wisconsin guy’ T.J. Watt
Described as fun-loving and positive, Ruth is one of 10 siblings and was married to Elmer Stryzewski before he passed away in 2003.
According to David, the couple enjoyed a very active social life, traveling all over the world to places in Europe, China and Japan.
Ruth belonged to a local singing group and loved square dancing and bowling while Elmer enjoyed golfing.
And even though they didn’t have children of their own, the couple always made time for David and his siblings, who grew up just two houses away from their beloved “Aunt Esther.”
LEGO champs: Jersey-bound: Oshkosh LEGO team Baksteen Valken headed to national tournament
“They were kind of our second parents, so we were always over at our house with Aunt Esther and her husband, Elmer,” David recalled.
“We loved spending time with them and we’d go up north with them to their cottage because it was just a close family relationship.
“I can remember as a kid going over there just to knock on the door and ask for candy and she would always say 'hi, come on in,'” he added.
Born on Feb.20, 1912, Aunt Esther is actually older than her beloved Green Bay Packers, Fenway Park and the Girls Scouts of America, and is just six days younger than the state of Arizona.
Ruth’s longevity doesn’t come as much as a surprise to the family though, considering her sister Marie Misterek lived to 103 while two other siblings made it to their 90s.
Ruth also had a cousin Lydia Koehler who lived until the age of 100.
Have a story tip or public interest concern? Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Wisconsin's oldest living resident Ruth Stryzewski of Oshkosh is 112
