Joannes "Jan" Aloïsius Goossenaerts (born 30 October 1900) is a Belgian supercentenarian. Since the death of Stanley Lucas of the United Kingdom he has been the oldest living man in Europe.[1][2][3][4] He is currently the world's third-oldest living man. Goossenaerts is one of only two living men verified by (GRG) to have been born in 1900. [5]
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Goossenaerts was born in the town of Horendonk-Essen (Province of Antwerp) to Josephus "Jozef" Goossenaerts and Joanna Van Ginneken.
Goossenaerts married Catharina Van Meel (18 August 1909 – 2 July 1997) on 18 January 1930. They were married for 67 years, until her death. They had five children: Irma (78) and Marcel (74) are deceased. Maria, Frans and Jozef are still living.
He worked as a mason and retired at the age of 65.
Goossenaerts has lived in a nursing home in Essen, Antwerp, since 2007. He took up residence there at age 106. Goossenaerts is in good shape and still walks every day in the yard of the nursing home. He has reported that his secret to longevity is to work hard and eat two slices of bread with pear syrup every morning.
On 18 January 2011, Goossenaerts became the oldest Belgian male ever born, surpassing Louis Marion at 110 years, 79 days. On 20 May 2011, Goossenaerts, aged 110 years 202 days, became one of the 100 oldest men on record. He is one of only 69 men to have ever reached the age of 111.
| Preceded by Stanley Lucas |
Oldest living man in Europe 21 June 2010 – Present |
Succeeded by Current |