| Jef Smets | |
 Jef Smets receiving a papal blessing on 18 April 2018 at age 104 | |
| Birth: | 15 April 1914 Retie, Antwerp, Belgium |
| Death: | 9 September 2021 Turnhout, Antwerp, Belgium |
| Age: | 107 years, 147 days |
| Country: |  BEL
|
| Centenarian | |
Jozef "Jef" Pieter Lodewijk Smets (15 April 1914 – 9 September 2021) was a Belgian centenarian who was the oldest known living man in Belgium at the time of his death.
Biography[]
Jef Smets was born in Retie, Antwerp, Belgium on 15 April 1914. He studied at the Klein-Seminarie van Hoogstraten and did his priestly studies in Mechelen. He was ordained a priest on 18 April 1938. At the University of Leuven he became a candidate in Germanic Philology. Later, Smets became teacher and superior in Hoogstraten, pastor-dean in Geel, regional vicar, and rector of the Gasthuiszusters in Turnhout.
His sister Marieke Smets (27 February 1916 – 15 July 2016) lived to be 100 years, 139 days.
On 18 April 2018 at age 104, Smets who was a priest for 80 years at the time, received a papal blessing from the Bishop of Antwerp Johan Bonny.
He became the oldest known living man in Belgium, following the death of 109-year-old Sylvain Vallee on 25 July 2021.
Jef Smets died in Turnhout, Antwerp, Belgium on 9 September 2021 at the age of 107 years, 147 days.
References[]
- Eeuwelinge Marieke Smets overleden Nieuwsblad, 18 July 2016
- 80 jaar geleden tot priester gewijd en nu krijgt Jozef Smets (104) pauselijke zegen Nieuwsblad, 19 April 2018
- Parochie Sint-Martinus Retie SeniorenNet Blogs, 14 April 2021
- Oudste mannelijke Belg woont in Turnhout: Jozef Smets is 107 jaar en 105 dagen oud GVA, 29 July 2021
- Oudste Belgische man op 107-jarige leeftijd overleden HLN, 10 September 2021
| 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 • Benedictus Bellens• Alfons Leempoels• Jozef Kets |