Maurice Stael

Maurice Stael
Maurice Stael at the age of 106
Birth:	25 September 1911 Wijnendale, West Flanders, Belgium
Death:	24 January 2020 Beernem, West Flanders, Belgium
Age:	108 years, 121 days
Country:	BEL
Centenarian

Maurits Roger "Maurice" Stael (25 September 1911 – 24 January 2020) was a Belgian centenarian who was been the oldest known living man in Belgium from the death of 106-year-old Gustave Leclercq on 5 April 2018 until his own death on 24 January 2020. He was among the top 15 oldest men ever born in Belgium at the time of his death.

Biography

Maurice Stael was born on 25 September 1911 in Wijnendale, West Flanders, Belgium. He was one of 11 children born to Edward Stael and Leonie Verhaege, who were farmers. In 1941, he married Maria Devooght, with whom he had four children. The couple ran a farm together in Wijnendale until the early 1950s, when they opened a sewing machine store. Stael’s son, Frans, took over the business in 1974, who, in turn left it to his own son, Dries, in 2016.

Stael’s wife Maria died in 2003 aged 92. Stael moved into a care home in Beernem, West Flanders in 2011. As a centenarian, he always wore his World War II medals with pride. On 5 April 2018, aged 106, Stael became the oldest living man in Belgium. He died in Beernem, West Flanders, Belgium, at the age of 108 years, 121 days.

References

• Maurits Stael (106) is nieuwe oudste man Het Nieuwsblad
• Oudste man van België Maurits Stael overleden West-Vlaanderen, 25 January 2020
• Belgium's oldest senior passes away aged 108 The Brussels Times, 25 January 2020

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