Anna Wagner
Anna Wagner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anna Salzmann 6 June 1914 Euratsfeld, Cisleithania, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 12 May 2026 (aged 111) Euratsfeld, Lower Austria, Austria |
| Other name | Anna Offenberger |
| Known for | Oldest living person in the Germanosphere (17 January 2025 – 12 May 2026) |
Political party | Austrian People's Party |
| Children | 1 |
Anna Wagner (née Salzmann and later Offenberger; 6 June 1914 – 12 May 2026) was an Austrian supercentenarian.[1] She was the oldest person living in a German-speaking country from 17 January 2025 until her death.[2]
Biography
Anna Wagner was born on 6 June 1914, just before the beginning of World War I.[3] She was born in the market town of Euratsfeld in the district of Amstetten, as the illegitimate daughter of the unmarried daughter of master bricklayer Amalia Salzmann (born 8 July 1882 in Euratsfeld; died 6 May 1933 in Amstetten). She was baptized on 8 June 1914.[2] The farmer Augustin Offenberger (born 22 April 1890 in Euratsfeld),[4] only acknowledged his paternity in later years and was subsequently recorded in his daughter's baptismal register (where her first name was spelled August). On 2 June 1923, Anna Wagner was confirmed in the Mostviertel municipality of Viehdorf. A few months earlier, on 12 February 1923, her mother had married August Offenberger, a postman, in Oberndorf an der Melk.[5]
Wagner grew up with her younger sister Amalia (born 13 June 1923; died 14 September 2005) on a small farm in Euratsfeld, where she lived until her death.[6][7] After attending the Euratsfeld elementary school for eight years, she transferred to a domestic science school in Amstetten, which she travelled to daily by bicycle and where she completed her schooling.[8] Afterwards, she worked as a farmer.
Her mother died of sepsis on 6 May 1933 at the age of 50 and was buried in the Euratsfeld Cemetery on 8 May 1933:
A mother's heart stopped beating unexpectedly quickly. Mrs. Amalia Offenberger was transferred to the Amstetten hospital about 14 days ago; on Sunday, May 7th, during the Mother's Day celebrations, the hearse brought her back. On Monday, May 8th, she was laid to rest.
— – Note in the St. Pölten newspaper of 18 May 1933[9]
On 28 May 1951, Anna married Franz Wagner in a civil ceremony in Amstetten and in a church ceremony at the pilgrimage church of Maria Taferl, and took his surname. With her husband, who predeceased her, she had a daughter named Margarete and a granddaughter.[10]
She retired in the early 1980s. Until she was over 90 years old, she undertook several trips abroad each year. At the age of 90, she boarded a plane for the first time in her life for a trip to Lourdes.[8] Even at 100, she met regularly with a group of Euratsfeld residents over 80 and participated in an annual excursion.[8] Wagner was an active member of the Lower Austrian People's Party[11] and organized several trips for the Austrian Senior Citizens' Association. She was reportedly the oldest member of the Lower Austrian People's Party.[12]
After Margarete Tröstl, Anna Wagner was the second oldest person living in Austria.[13] With her 110th birthday in June 2024, Wagner became a supercentenarian.[10] In an interview on her 110th birthday, she attributed her longevity to her decidedly positive outlook on life and her decades of physical activity.[14] From the death of Margarete Tröstl on 17 January 2025, Wagner, who was confined to a wheelchair in her later years, was the oldest person living in Austria and in a German-speaking country.[2]
Wagner died on 12 May 2026, at the age of 111 years and 340 days in the house where she had spent almost her entire life.[2]
References
- ↑ "Wohl älteste Österreicherin mit 111 Jahren gestorben". ORF (in German). 13 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Wohl älteste Österreicherin mit 111 Jahren gestorben". orf.at. 13 May 2026. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- ↑ "Anna Wagner: Wohl älteste Österreicherin mit 111 Jahren gestorben". www.kleinezeitung.at (in German). 13 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ Taufbuch Euratsfeld, tom. X, fol. 24 (Facsimile), retrieved 11 February 2025.
- ↑ Trauung. In: St. Pöltner Zeitung. Gegründet als "St. Pöltner Bote", 8 March 1923, p. 10 (Online at ANNO)
- ↑ "Ständchen zum 109. Geburtstag von Frau Anna Wagner". mv-euratsfeld.at (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ↑ Daniela Führer (12 June 2014). "100 Jahre mitten im Leben". noen.at (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- 1 2 3 Daniela Führer (12 June 2014). "100 Jahre mitten im Leben". noen.at (in German). Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- ↑ Sterbefall. In: St. Pöltner Zeitung. Gegründet als "St. Pöltner Bote", 18 May 1933, p. 12 (Online at ANNO)
- 1 2 "Euratsfeld: Mikl-Leitner gratulierte Anna Wagner zum 110. Geburtstag". meinbezirk.at (in German). 18 June 2024. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ↑ Michaela Aichinger (13 June 2014). "Euratsfelderin ist ältestes Mitglied der Volkspartei Niederösterreich". tips.at (in German). Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ↑ "Ein Jahrhundert Leben: 111 Jahre gelebt – Anna Wagner in Euratsfeld ist friedlich verstorben". MeinBezirk.at (in German). 13 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
- ↑ "109 Jahre: Anna Wagner ist zweitälteste Niederösterreicherin". noen.at (in German). 22 June 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- ↑ "Anna Wagner". longeviquest.com. Retrieved 17 January 2025.