BIOGRAPHY

Rignhild Kwapil was born in Racine, Wisconsin on 2 February 1893, to Danish-born parents who  named her after a Danish princess. She attended school through the 10th grade before taking business courses. Afterwards, she began working for Horlicks Malted Milk Co., an international chocolate company, where she was employed in the foreign trade department. She was married to Arthur Kwapil, a gas company supervisor who died in 1961.

In the 1960s, following the death of her husband, she moved in with her son, daughter-in-law, and their two children. The family moved frequently for her son’s work, which gave her the opportunity to travel. They eventually settled in Fairhope, Alabama, where Kwapil would remain for the rest of her life.  She remained active into her early 90s, until she suffered a broken hip at the age of 91, which limited her mobility.

Rignhild Kwapil died in Fairhope, Alabama on 19 February 2004, at the age of 111 years, 17 days. She was survived by her son, two grandsons, and two great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Jimmy Lindberg, and validated by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

• The Journal Times, February 26, 2004

GALLERY