Having lived at the Rainbow Retirement and Assisted Living Center in
Great Falls, Montana for the last 32 years, Breuning was in good health. He was a lifelong cigar smoker, but quit in 1999. He was able to walk, and ate two meals a day. He maintained a sharp mind and accurate memory. For example, he could remember his grandfather talking about his experiences in the
American Civil War when he was three years old, and remembered the day President
William McKinley was shot as the day "I got my first haircut". He took no prescription medications. In November 2007, at the age of 111, Breuning was fitted with hearing aids.
On his 112th birthday, Breuning said the secret to long life is being active: "[If] you keep your mind busy and keep your body busy, you're going to be around a long time."
The week before his 113th birthday in September 2009, Breuning fell and bruised his scalp, but was otherwise unhurt.
Breuning dressed in a suit and tie every day. On April 24, 2009 at the age of 112, Breuning was interviewed on CBS by Steve Hartman for
Assignment America. When asked by Hartman if he would do a second CBS interview in four years, Breuning said, "Well hell you sure can!"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Breuning
