Biography
Godejohann was born as Louise Lubben in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, on 31 December 1849. Her parents were Herman Henry Lubben and Mary Melcher (1822–1909). She had one younger brother, Henry Herman (1855–1917). Her father passed away in 1863, and her mother remarried Casper Godejohann (1821–1882) in 1865. Casper had one son from his previous marriage, William, and they were both immigrants from Prussia.
In 1871, she married her stepbrother, William Godejohann (1849–1930) in Belleville, Illinois. The couple had four children, including Alvin (1872–1941), Omar (1873–1875) and Louise ‘’Lulu’’ Norby. In 1873, the family moved to Olney, Illinois. Her husband would end up becoming a successful cigar manufacturer. Her husband passed away on 9 January 1930.
In 1950, she received a letter from President Harry S. Truman, congratulating her on her 100th birthday. As a centenarian, she was still a devoted member of the First Presbyterian church of Olney but was unable to attend services due to poor hearing. She claimed to have no ‘’special formula’’ for her longevity. At the age of 108, she lived with her last surviving child, Louise Norby.
Godejohann passed away in the Richland Memorial Hospital in Olney, Illinois, USA, on 30 June 1960.
