Louise Schaaf

Lisl Schaaf
Schaaf at age 113.
Birth:	16 October 1906 Keltern, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany
Death:	25 April 2020 Chicago, Illinois, USA
Age:	113 years, 192 days
Country:	GERUSA
Validated

Louise Wilhemine "Lisl" Schaaf (née Burkle [German: Bürkle]; 16 October 1906 – 25 April 2020) was a German-born American supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).

Biography

Early Life

Schaaf was born in Dietlingen, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany, on 16 October 1906. As a young girl, she worked in her aunt’s watch factory. She emigrated to the United States at the age of 21, arriving on 4 June 1928. A cousin sent her the money to move to Chicago, Illinois, where she worked cleaning houses and taking care of children.

Schaaf married her husband, Erwin, on 24 April 1931. She stayed at home to look after their two children when they were young, before later working part-time packing chocolates at a candy store. She also worked as a cook at the Hapsburg Inn in Des Plaines, Chicago, where her husband moonlighted as a bartender.

After the Second World War, Schaaf sent regular care packages to her relatives in Germany, mailing them items such as tobacco, coffee, and toilet paper. In 1952, Schaaf returned to Germany for the first time since emigrating.

Later Life

At the time of her 110th birthday in October 2016, Schaaf lived in her own home in Chicago, Illinois, and reportedly enjoyed cooking and baking. Toward the end of her life, she lost some of her vision due to macular degeneration.

Schaaf died at her home on 25 April 2020 at the age of 113 years, 192 days. At the time of her death, she had four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and eight great-great grandchildren. A ninth great-grandchild was born about a week after she died.

At the time of her death, Schaaf was the second-oldest living emigrant whose age has been validated by GRG, after Tekla Juniewicz. She was also the oldest living person born in Germany and the sixth-oldest known living person in the United States.

Gallery

Schaaf as a baby

Schaaf as a child, with her siblings

Schaaf at age 110

Schaaf at age 111

Schaaf at age 112

References

• Weltweit eine der Ältesten - Geborene Dietlingerin feiert 110. Geburtsag PZ-news.de Pforzheimer Zeitung
• Chicago area woman celebrates 111th birthday ABC7 Chicago, 16 October 2017
• Louise W. Schaaf Obituary Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2020
• Louise Schaaf, dead at 113, was Illinois’ oldest resident, oldest known immigrant to the U.S. Chicago Sun Times, 5 June 2020