Gustavus Leclercq

Gustavus "Gustave/Gustaaf" Leclercq (2 July 1911 – 6 April 2018) was a Belgian centenarian who was the oldest man in Belgium from the death of Jacques Clemens on 7 March 2018 until his own death a month later.

Biography
Gustave Leclercq was born on 2 July 1911 in Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium as the youngest of three children. His parents died from typhus when he was three and left him an orphan. Until he was 18, he lived in an orphanage with his older brother. He later became a carpenter and married Maria Brise, who passed away at a young age.

At the age of 77, Leclercq met and married his second wife Nora Devilder. As a centenarian, Nora would assist him with walking. According to Leclercq, his secret to a long life is eating herring every morning. He frequented the library up until shortly before his death.

On 7 March 2018, Leclercq became the oldest living man in Belgium following the death of 108-year-old priest Jacques Clemens, and held the title for the final 30 days of his life. Up until his death, he lived in his own flat.

Gustave Leclercq passed away on 6 April 2018 in De Haan, West Flanders, Belgium at the age of 106 years, 278 days, following a bout of pneumonia. His successor as the oldest living man in Belgium was Maurice Stael (born 25 September 1911).