BIOGRAPHY

Rau was born in Großgartach (now part of Leingarten), Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on 31 July 1912. She was the middle of three sisters, and they grew up on a farm in Großgartach, where she had to help out from a young age. Her older sister lived to be 99 years old, while her younger sister died of cancer at the age of 70. She did not meet her father until she was six years old due to World War I.

Rau met her future husband on her parents’ farm. Her father, who had a stable full of cattle and two horses, needed a farrier and metalworker, Alfred Rau, to treat a sick horse. Alfred visited the farm every two days to burn its hoof. The two were married on 14 March 1936. The young couple moved into a house and workshop, and their daughter, Else, was born. When the Second World War began, her husband enlisted. As a blacksmith in the cavalry, he was not at the front lines. After he returned from the war, their son, Hans, was born in 1948.

When her father died at the age of 50, she helped her mother manage the farm. At home, she looked after her husband’s apprentices and managed the vineyard. Her husband lived to be 87, and she cared for him during the last two years of his life. Her daughter died of breast cancer at the age of 64.

Rau lived in her own home until her 100th birthday, after which she moved into a nursing home. By the age of 107, her eyesight and hearing had deteriorated considerably, but she remained mentally sharp. Every day, she still got up on her own and took short walks around the house with her walker when the weather was nice. At that time, she had four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

At the age of 105, she received a congratulatory certificate from Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann. On her 110th birthday, she received a certificate and a photo with a personal dedication from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Rau passed away in Leingarten, on 29 July 2024, two days before her 112th birthday.

RECOGNITION

On 23 July 2024, following the passing of 113-year-old Erna Brosig, she became the second-oldest (known) living person in Germany, after Charlotte Kretschmann, who was also living in Baden-Württemberg.

Her age was verified by Georg Fürholzer, and validated by LongeviQuest on 8 October 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Frau aus Leingarten feiert heute ihren 107. Geburtstag” – Stimme, 31 July 2019

* “Leingartenerin feiert ihren 109. Geburtstag” – Stimme, 31 July 2021

* “109. Geburtstag” – ASB Heilbronn, 3 August 2021

* “110. Geburtstag im ASB Seniorenzentrum am Heuchelberg in Leingarten” – ASB Heilbronn, 2 August 2022

* “Traueranzeigen von Hilda Rau” – trauerundgedenken.de, 2 August 2024

GALLERY