Frantisek Marek

Frantisek Marek
Birth:	23 January 1920 Zilina Region, Slovakia
Death:	7 April 2023 Zilina, Zilina Region, Slovakia
Age:	103 years, 74 days
Country:	SVK
Centenarian

Frantisek Marek [Slovak: František Marek] (23 January 1920 – 7 April 2023) was a Slovakian centenarian who, at the time of his death, was the oldest known living man in Slovakia, and was also the last surviving Slovak veteran who fought in Italy during World War II.

Biography

Frantisek Marek was born in Zilina Region, Slovakia on 23 January 1920. During World War II, he was enlisted as a soldier, and was assigned to the Eastern Front.

After the Germans perceived Frantisek and his unit as "useless", he later left his unit, along with for other Slovakian soldiers, and joined the Italian resistance. He was imprisoned three times, and he even received a death sentence, though he managed to get away with it. He then continued on with the resistance effort.

He became the oldest known living man in Slovakia, following the death of 103-year-old Jozef Krizek on 9 December 2022.

Frantisek Marek died in Zilina, Zilina Region, Slovakia on 7 April 2023 at the age of 103 years, 74 days.

References

• Minister obrany ocenil storočného veterána F. Mareka zo Žiliny Teraz, 23 January 2020
• Vojnový veterán oslávil v týchto dňoch 102 rokov Zilina, 20 January 2022
• Bojoval s talianskymi partizánmi a prežil väzenie. Jeden z posledných veteránov Žilinského kraja dostal pamätnú medailu Žilinak, 12 April 2022
• Smutná správa pre Slovensko: Vo veku 103 rokov zomrel vojnový veterán František Marek! Plus JEDEN DEŇ - Pluska, 12 April 2023
• Last Slovak fighter involved in WW2 Italian resistance dies at 103 Rádio RSI English - RTVS, 13 April 2023

Slovakia's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E)

Stefan Novotny • Michal Kruzic • Anton Dobrota • Jozef Daniska • Rudolf Kosa • Jozef Lukovic • Juraj Gabura • Frantisek Bohacik • Jan Palovsky • Jozef Krizek • Frantisek Marek • Jan Slavik