Norway’s oldest man, Jørgen Bernhard Rustad of Gjøvik, has died after living through the entire 20th century and well into the 21st. He was 109.
Rustad was born on August 12, 1900, five years before Norway won its sovereignty from Sweden and its monarchy was re-established. He lived through both World Wars and was an active resistance fighter in the second.
He said under the celebration of his 109th birthday last year that the recipe for a long life was not to “let your head hang down.” He said that complaining and being negative “is the dumbest thing people can do. I have always had good humour, and if I wasn’t feeling well, I’d simply think back and remember all the good times I’ve had.”
Rustad worked as a prison guard before retiring several decades ago. He still went skiing at an age of 104, and had a brief spell as a stand-up comedian at the age of 106.
His long-time friend John Seim told TV2 that Rustad died on Sunday with his family gathered around him.
SEE ALSO: Norwegians living even longer
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