| Erna Zahn | |
 Zahn on her 113th birthday in 2021 | |
| Birth: | 14 April 1908 Winnebago County, Wisconsin, USA |
| Death: | 9 August 2022 New Ulm, Minnesota, USA |
| Age: | 114 years, 117 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Erna Amelia Augusta Zahn (née Miller; 14 April 1908 – 9 August 2022) was an American supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of her death, she was the oldest known person living in the U.S. state of Minnesota. She was also the third-oldest living validated person in the United States, after Bessie Hendricks and Edie Ceccarelli, and the fourth-oldest living validated American-born person (after Maria Branyas Morera, Hendricks, and Ceccarelli).
Biography
Erna Zahn was born as Erna Amelia Augusta Miller in Winnebago County, Wisconsin, USA on 14 April 1908 to Henry and Olga (née Kloehn) Miller. She had one older brother, Herbert, and two younger sisters, Adeline and Marjorie. As a young girl, she enjoyed horseback riding, often on Sunday afternoons, as well as sewing and swimming. Some of her favorite historical moments she had include riding in the rumble seat of a car from home to Mount Rushmore, while it was still under construction.
After graduating from Ripon High School, Zahn attended Oshkosh Business School and later worked as a secretary for Giant Grip, a company that made iron products, and as a stenographer.
Zahn married Meilahn Zahn on 27 July 1935. He was head of the Martin Luther College music department from 1962 to 1975. The couple had six children, four sons and two daughters. Her husband died in 1982. Longevity runs in her family: her mother died at the age of 95, and both of her sisters died at the age of 97.
Zahn credited her longevity to her faith and diet; she enjoyed eating dark chocolate and bananas.
Zahn died at Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm, Minnesota, USA on 9 August 2022, at the age of 114 years, 117 days. At the time of her death, she was the eighth-oldest living validated person in the world. She was also among the last surviving American people born in the 1900s decade.
Longevity Records
Zahn became the oldest known person living in Minnesota following the death of 112 year-old Evelyn Kleine on 7 December 2019.
On 13 June 2021, at the age of 113 years, 60 days, Zahn surpassed the age of Bertha Harris to become the oldest person ever born in the state of Wisconsin.
Zahn's age was verified by Robert Young and Waclaw Jan Kroczek, and validated by the GRG on 8 January 2022.
On 21 June 2022, at the age of 114 years, 68 days, Zahn surpassed the age of Anna Stoehr to become the oldest person ever to reside in the state of Minnesota.
Following the death of Mila Mangold on 2 July 2022, Zahn became the third-oldest living validated resident of the United States, after Bessie Hendricks and Edie Ceccarelli.
Gallery
References
- 109 and counting The Journal, 14 April 2017
- Zahn becomes a super centenarian The Journal, 15 April 2018
- 111-year-old Celebrates Birthday With Four-Legged Friends KEYC, 14 April 2019
- Zahn believed to be Minnesota’s most senior resident The Journal, 21 December 2019
- 111 years of wisdom: New Ulm woman believed to be oldest Minnesota resident Mankato Free Press, 22 January 2020
- Minnesota’s most senior citizen turns 113 The Journal, 12 April 2021
- Oldest Minnesotan celebrates 113th birthday with pie in Sleepy Eye The Free Press, 14 April 2021
- Minnesota’s oldest resident turns 113 KEYC, 14 April 2021
- Erna Zahn Happy 114th Birthday today (her second golden Birthday)! Oak Hills Living Center on Facebook, 14 April 2022
- Erna A. Zahn Obituary Minnesota Valley Funeral Home