BIOGRAPHY

Margareta Treutler was born in Stolberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, on 8 October 1912. She grew up in a well-protected home near the Eifel, with her parents and two sisters. Their home had a large garden, lakes for swimming, and horses for riding. Ballet and dance were her great passions, eventually becoming her profession. She later lived in Cologne and Berlin, where she had a son, born around 1941, with her first husband. Her second husband, Werner, was killed in action during World War II and his body was never recovered. After that loss, she chose never to remarry. She ran a gymnastics and dance school in Cologne for many years, with exercise and sports playing a significant role throughout her life.

In 1964, she came across an apartment advertisement in Oberstaufen while reading the newspaper. She and her boyfriend were drawn to it and decided to stay for a while. From the start, they were captivated by the landscape of mountains and lakes surrounding Oberstaufen. In the summer, they often swam in the Eibelesee and went hiking, while in the winter, they enjoyed skiing, frequently on the Hochgrat. Her love for the mountains and hiking eventually inspired her to relocate to Oberstaufen in 1985.

Even as a young woman, she loved to travel. South Africa was her favorite destination, though she was also impressed by Mexico and South America.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, she shrugged and replied, “I didn’t choose to live this long. I never paid much attention to myself and often led a chaotic life.” She smoked until she was about 40 and enjoyed drinking wine. She only gave up her driver’s license at the age of 97, after her son suggested it would be safer not to drive anymore due to her declining eyesight.

In 2012, she moved into the St. Elisabeth senior citizens’ center in Oberstaufen. For her 105th birthday, Oberstaufen’s mayor, Martin Beckel, invited her on a special trip to her local mountain, the Imberg. As the oldest member of FC Bayern Munich, she also had the honor of welcoming the club’s honorary president, Uli Hoeneß, to her retirement home in July 2022. A few days after her 107th birthday, she was visited by District Administrator Anton Klotz and Mayor Martin Beckel, who came to offer their congratulations. They also brought a letter from Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, along with a personal gift he had sent to her.

Margareta Treutler passed away in Oberstaufen, Bavaria, Germany, on 29 January 2023, at the age of 110 years, 113 days.

Margareta Treutler passed away in Oberstaufen, Bavaria, Germany, on 29 January 2023, at the age of 110 years, 113 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Margareta Treutler aus Oberstaufen feiert ihren 107. Geburtstag” – Kreisbote, 17 October 2019

* “Uli Hoeneß überrascht ältestes FC-Bayern-Mitglied” – Schwaebische, 20 July 2022

* “Oberstaufens älteste bürgerin feiert im Oktober ihren 110. Geburtstag” – Oberstaufen MAGAZIN (issue 07, autumn 2022), 20 September 2022

* “Diese Allgäuerin war das älteste Mitglied des FC Bayern München: Margareta Treutler ist tot” – Allgäuer Zeitung, 31 January 2023

GALLERY