| Ronald Hermanns | |
 Hermanns (aged 107) visiting the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in October 2018 | |
| Birth: | 25 September 1911 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Death: | 30 August 2021 Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Age: | 109 years, 341 days |
| Country: |  CAN NZL
|
| Centenarian | |
Ronald "Ron" Hermanns (25 September 1911 – 30 August 2021) was a Canadian-New Zealander centenarian who was believed to be the oldest known living man and person in New Zealand at the time of his death.
Biography[]
Hermanns was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on 25 September 1911. His family moved to New Zealand in 1914, and settled in Wellington. In 1937, Hermanns joined the Wellington Territorial Squadron as an aircraft rigger, and in 1939, joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force. In 1943, he was deployed overseas in Vanuatu (then New Hebrides), where he spent a year working with American troops and servicing aircraft. During the war, Hermanns collected shells and discarded aircraft pieces, and created "trench art", which he donated to the Air Force Museum of New Zealand in 2009.
Herrmanns never married and had no children. Despite losing much of his sight and hearing to the effects of old age, he still lived independently as of his 108th birthday, and still spends much of his time in his workshop. He even built a metal fence in his backyard at age 107, which he constructed in spite of his blindness, instead building it "by feel". His neighbor remarked that he rarely ever complains about anything; his only birthday wish was to be able to see again.
In September 2019, when he was 108, Hermanns met with 106-year-old Bill Mitchell (10 April 1913 – 8 November 2021), who later became the oldest known living man in New Zealand.
Following the death of Howard Buss on 25 January 2019, he was believed to be the oldest known living man in New Zealand, and after the death of Nina Brown on 29 May 2020, he was believed to be the oldest known living person in New Zealand.
Hermanns died in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand on 30 August 2021 at the age of 109 years, 339 days.
Gallery[]
References[]
- In Honour: New Zealand's World War II veterans Stuff
- Visiting the Air Force Museum of New Zealand Facebook, 3 October 2018
- Two oldest New Zealanders turn 108 in Christchurch Stuff.co.nz, 25 September 2019
- Happy 109th Birthday Ron Hermanns Facebook Post, 25 September 2020
- Our team were saddened to learn of the passing on Monday of Mr Ron Hermanns Facebook Post, 30 August 2021
- Veteran Ron Hermanns Death – Obituary, Veteran Ron Hermanns Has Died DeadDeath, 1 September 2021
| New Zealand's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Lavinia Baskerville • Helen Dixon • Mary Luplau • Flora Barton • Alexander Hughes • Agnes Wilson • Lillian Blyth • Ethel Pearson • Mary Cartwright • Caroline Turner-Williams • Agnes Whitworth • Lila Firth • Martha McLeod • Florence Sedcole • Edith Robison • Jessie Little • Mary Bromley • Lillian Hickmott • Arthur Bates • Ethel Keen • Jean Tillie • William Swensson • Charles Campbell • Mary Doyle • William Buttler Hayes • Bertha Cole • Laura White • Ethel Booth • Mabel Wachner • Florence Finch • Irene Morgan • Ruby Billings • Inez Newton • Doris Mackintosh • Lena Ray • Maudie Wilson • Peg Griffin • Olive Oldfield • Madeline Anderson • Linda Wiggins • Mabel Jenkins • Lola de la Haye • Moy Kim Ng • Nina Brown • Ronald Hermanns • Joan Brennan • Aileen Kars |
| New Zealand's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E) |
|
Christopher Murray • Alexander Hughes • Maxwell Wallenstein • Wesley Firth • Frederick Fox • David Orange • Thomas Salmon • Allan Watkins • Edward Leigh • Arthur Bates • William Swensson • Charles Campbell • Hubert Harden • William Hayes • James Hill • Lawrence Blyth • Bright Williams • Cecil Hamilton • Ernest Ryland • Trevor Henry • Harold Clark • Dudley Sainsbury • Taiwung Yu Hoi • Harry Andrews • Ian Chirnside • Bob Edwards • Howard Buss • Ronald Hermanns • Bill Mitchell • Laurence Reynolds • Jack Coe • James Easton |