Franz Wielander

Franz Wielander
Franz Wielander at the age of 100
Birth:	21 January 1914 St. Polten, Austria-Hungary (now Austria)
Death:	1 April 2023 St. Polten, Lower Austria, Austria
Age:	109 years, 70 days
Country:	AUT
Centenarian

Franz Wielander (21 January 1914 – 1 April 2023) was an Austrian centenarian who was the oldest known living man in Austria at the time of his death. He is also the third-oldest known man ever from Austria, behind Leopold Vietoris and Johann Vicen.

Biography

Franz Wielander was born in the St. Polten, Austria-Hungary (now Austria) on 21 January 1914.

He married Hermine on 12 October 1940. The couple had at least one son: Rudolf Wielander. In 1941, he had to join the Wehrmacht. He was in captivity in Siberia for two years. It was not until 1947 that the couple saw each other again, after Russian captivity at the St. Georgen train station.

His wife Hermine Wielander died in 2017 at the age of 98 after 77 years of marriage.

He became the oldest living man in Austria upon the death of 106-year-old Anton Kronberger (1913–2020) on 14 June 2020.

In January 2022, he celebrated his 108th birthday, after recovering from an operation.

Wielander died at his house in St. Polten, Lower Austria, Austria on 1 April 2023 at the age of 109 years, 70 days, where he was cared for by his son and daughter-in-law.

Gallery

Franz Wielander (aged 101) with his wife Hermine Wielander (aged 95) in 2015

Franz Wielander on his 104th birthday with the mayor Matthias Stadler in 2018

Franz Wielander on his 105th birthday with the mayor Matthias Stadler in 2019

Franz Wielander on his 106th birthday with the mayor Matthias Stadler in 2020

Franz Wielander on his 108th birthday with the mayor Matthias Stadler in 2022

Franz Wielander on his 109th birthday with the mayor Matthias Stadler in 2023

References

• "Einfach solid gelebt" Meinbezirk.at, 12 February 2014
• Franz Wielander: Humor im stolzen Alter Meinbezirk.at, 23 January 2015
• 75 Jahre gemeinsam durch's Leben Meinbezirk.at, 20 October 2015
• Ältester St. Pöltner feierte 104. Geburtstag NÖN.at, 30 January 2018
• Ältester St. Pöltner feiert 105. Geburtstag ORF NÖ, 23 January 2019
• Ältester St. Pöltner feierte 105. Geburtstag NÖN.at, 24 January 2019
• Ältester St. Pöltner feiert 106. Geburtstag Krone.at, 24 January 2020
• Ältester St. Pöltner - Franz Wielander ist 107 Jahre alt NÖN.at, 28 January 2021
• Einer der ältesten Österreicher lebt in St. Pölten St. Pölten, 28 January 2022
• Ältester Österreicher feierte 109. Geburtstag St. Pölten, 23 January 2023
• "Mach's gut, Franz": Ältester Mann Österreichs mit 109 Jahren gestorben Kurier, 4 April 2023

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

Leopold Vietoris • Samuel Botscher • Anton Bohdal • Johann Bogl • Wilhelm Mahler • Franz Harrer • Josef Kastenhuber • Leopold Engleitner • Albin Pichler • Gunter Fronius • Felix Madl • Franz Peter Winkler • Theodor Zafred • Johann Diesenhofer • Josef Pux • Julius Frauerwieser • Leopold Kriegbaum • Johann Simair • Otto Filipsky • Josef Schadler • Marko Feingold • Alois Mayrhofer • Anton Kronberger • Franz Wielander • Josef Peer