| Gustavus Leclercq | |
 Gustavus Leclercq in his final years. | |
| Birth: | 2 July 1911 Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium |
| Death: | 5 April 2018 De Haan, West Flanders, Belgium |
| Age: | 106 years, 277 days |
| Country: |  BEL
|
| Centenarian | |
Gustavus "Gustaaf" Leclercq (2 July 1911 – 5 April 2018) was a Belgian centenarian who was the oldest man in Belgium from the death of Jacques Clemens on 7 March 2018 until his own death a month later.
Biography
Gustavus Leclercq was born on 2 July 1911 in Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium as the youngest of three children. His parents died from typhus when he was three and left him an orphan. Until he was 18, he lived in an orphanage with his older brother. He later became a carpenter and married Maria Brise, who died at a young age.
At the age of 77, Leclercq met and married his second wife Nora Devilder. As a centenarian, Nora would assist him with walking. According to Leclercq, his secret to a long life was eating herring every morning. He frequented the library up until shortly before his death.
On 7 March 2018, Leclercq became the oldest living man in Belgium following the death of 108-year-old priest Jacques Clemens, and held the title for the final 29 days of his life. Up until his death, he lived in his own flat.
Gustavus Leclercq died on 5 April 2018 in De Haan, West Flanders, Belgium at the age of 106 years, 277 days, following a bout of pneumonia. His successor as the oldest living man in Belgium was Maurice Stael (born 25 September 1911).
References
- Gustavus, de oudste man van België, is overleden HLN, 9 April 2018
| Belgium's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Julien Sterckx • Edmond Van Cauteren • Pieter Hinnisdaels • Clement de Vos • Polydoor Vandersypt • Eugene Naniot • Cesar Dassonville • Lievin Pelfrene • Francois Rygaert • Albert de Selliers de Moranville • Dictus Bomans • Jules-Leo Neijrinck • Emiel Vanderhaegen • Petrus Van de Voorde • Jozef de Koker • Paul Henrard • Louis Marion • Georges Nevejans • Marcel Duguet • Jos de Kort • Jan Goossenaerts • Oscar Coulembier • Aime Wille • Jacques Clemens • Gustavus Leclercq • Maurice Stael • Sylvain Vallee • Jef Smets • Jaak Broekx • Albert Van Raemdonck |