Joergen Rustad

	Norway's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (V • E)
	Thrond Olsen • Nils Monsen Sleire • Mathias Hansen Saether • Erik H Boerset • Hans Peter Jacobsen • Anders Stenehjem • Johan Saanum • Andreas Sandberg • Gulbrand Morterud • Hans Felde • Erik Berg • Engebret Hatten • Kleng Skeie • Hans Asegg • Wilhelm Pedersen • Henrik Maeland • Olav Holtan • Anders Odegaard • Isak Aarhus • Ludvig Froeysland • Karl Holm • Ingebrigt Johansen • Anton Jakobsen • Herman Smith-Johannsen • Petter Iversen • Erik Arnegaard • Arnt Sundli • Tjolstolv Saetre • Sigvart Eide • Ole Svartas • Arne Olaisen • Severin Fosse • Amund Vermedal • Odd Oeyeflaten • Johannes Fosse • Olav Hovatn • Karl Doelven • Alfred Ihlen • Joergen Rustad • Helge Fjeldstad • Haakon Skoien • Jakob Gunnes • Thorvald Netteland • Birger Synsvoll • Carl Falck • Torbjorn Overbo • George Nygaard • Hjalmar Gregersen • Alf Johansen • Roar Gulbrandsen • Alf Olsen • Vidar Eide • Odd Borlaug

	Joergen Rustad
	; Joergen Rustad at the age of 109.
Birth:	12 August 1900; Ringsaker, Hedmark, Norway
Death:	18 April 2010; Gjøvik, Oppland, Norway
Age:	109 years, 249 days
Country:	NOR
	Centenarian

Jo(e)rgen Bernhard Rustad [Norwegian: Jørgen] (12 August 1900 – 18 April 2010) was a Norwegian centenarian who was the oldest known living man in Norway at the time of his death.

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Jo(e)rgen Bernhard Rustad was born in Ringsaker, Hedmark, Østlandet, Norway to parents Johannes Johannessen Rustad (1870–1957) and Berthe Olsdatter Rustad (1866–1909), five years before Norway won its sovereignty from Sweden and its monarchy was re-established. His siblings were Olga, Gunda, Johannes, Karl (1898–2000), Ole, August, and Karen. His mother died of tuberculosis when he was aged just nine.

Aged 18 at the conclusion of the first World War, he later served as an active resistance fighter in World War II. After the War, he worked as a prison guard for several decades. He married Magnhild Rustad (1901–1978), having one daughter Bjørg Rustad (1924–2016).

Later Years[]

Rustad remained in good health into his final years, keeping active even as a centenarian. Similarly to Herman Smith-Johannsen, he was an avid cross country skier, a hobby he continued until he was 104. He was passionate about storytelling and making people laugh, which led to him performing as a stand up comedian at the age of 106. On his final birthday, he told journalists that his legs were still strong, but that his failing eyesight prevented him from being independent.

When asked for his secret to living a long life, he explained that "one should not go and hang his head. That's the dumbest thing to do. I always am in a good mood, and if I get a little sad I always think back on good things." He also recommended eating roquefort with breakfast and drinking red wine with dinner. His brother, Karl Rustad (1898–2000) died at the age of 101.

He became the oldest (known) living man in Norway following the death of Alfred Ihlen on 6 April 2006, and would hold the title for a little over 4 years.

Jo(e)rgen Rustad died in Gjøvik, Oppland, (Innlandet), Østlandet, Norway on 18 April 2010 at the age of 109 years, 249 days, surrounded by friends and family. He was survived by his 85-year-old daughter, as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. At the time, he was the third-oldest living person in Norway overall, after Gudrun Omdahl Onshuus and Ingeborg Mestad, who would both die less than two months later. He was one of the last surviving European men born in the 19th century.

Gallery[]

References[]

ET RIKERE NORGE» - EPISODE 7: Søndag fyller Jørgen 107 år! 12 August 2007
En god latter virker bedre enn all verdens tabletter 12 August 2008
Norges eldste standup-komiker fylte 109 12 August 2009
Jørgen Bernhard Rustad fra Gjøvik ble 109 år gammel. 20 April 2010
Norway loses its oldest man 21 April 2010
Family Tree Geni