Wellington Place assisted living resident in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, turns 108 years old in February 2004.

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Wellington Place assisted living resident in Fort

Atkinson, Wisconsin , turns 108 years old in February

2004.

Written by a family member of Mr. Keppen

January 12, 2004

Walter Keppen (left) with his youngest son, Robert.

MADISON, WI – Walter Keppen from Fort Atkinson, WI, who turns 108 years old on February 6, 2004, will celebrate with family and friends on that day at 1:00 p.m. at Wellington Place assisted living home in Fort Atkinson where he has lived since 1995. A retired farmer originally from the Palmyra, Wisconsin area, Mr. Keppen, born in 1896, remains quite alert for his age despite diminishing eyesight and poor hearing, and has had no major medical problems.

His youngest son, Robert, who took over the family farm some 40+ years ago, says Walter began farming with his uncles at age 10, started farming on his own with only seven cows and then grew it from there. For several years towards the end of his farming career, Walter worked at Allis Chalmers, the farming implement maker in West Allis , while still running his farm. Besides his farm work and family, Walter has always had a great passion for fishing and hunting, and still talks of the desire to get out there and throw out a line.

Mr. Keppen married Lena Kober in the early 1920’s, and together had seven children, three of whom have passed away, as has his wife, Lena , who died in 1980.

When asked what Walter’s secret is for long life, his son, Robert, commented, “It’s probably a combination of orneriness, a bit of stubbornness, his love for sweets and an occasional beer as well as a simple life of hard work and love for family.”