BIOGRAPHY

Gerhart Schneider was born in Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, Poland (then Habelschwerdt, German Empire), on 13 March 1908. He was born into a family of millers who owned a large business, and he followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Over the course of his life, he worked in 13 different mills, spending more than 30 years as a master miller at the Auermühle in Cologne-Deutz. As a master miller, he was never unemployed for a single day.

A year after his wedding, he took over his parents’ business in Silesia. However, as a young soldier in World War II, he was sent to the front and later taken prisoner by the French and Americans. After the war, he was expelled from his homeland and forced to give up his home.

In 1977, he built his own house in Paffrath, near Bergisch Gladbach. Throughout his life, he also lived in Jünkerath and Blankenheim.

Even at the age of 102, he still drove his car occasionally. His first vehicle was an Opel Olympia, and he passed his driving test with ease. However, in 2008, his wallet—containing his driver’s license—was stolen at Euskirchen train station. Although he received a replacement from the traffic office, he eventually decided to stop driving.

Gerhart Schneider passed away in Otterbach, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, on 18 December 2018, at the age of 110 years, 280 days.

RECOGNITION

His age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Ein 109-Jähriger, der echter Müller ist” – Wochenspiegel, 15 March 2017

* “Biblisches Alter: Gerhart Schneider feiert 110. Geburtstag!” – Kreis Euskirchen, 13 March 2018

* “Gerhart Schneider feiert 110. Geburtstag in Bad Münsteifel” – Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, 12 July 2018

GALLERY