Eugene Baltes, America’s oldest man, dies at 110

The Gerontology Research Group is saddened to report news that Mr. Eugene Baltes, the oldest living man in the United States, passed away in River Grove, Illinois, USA, on 29 December 2024, at the age of 110 years, 61 days. His death was announced by Hines VA Hospital on their official Facebook profile.

Eugene John Baltes was born in Scott County, Minnesota, USA, on 29 October 1914, to parents John Peter Baltes (1884–1983) and Margaret Josephine Breuer (1887–1986). His father and mother lived to be 99 years old. He had eight siblings: Marcelinna Baltes (1910–1910) who died a few months after birth, Helen Kaufenberg (1911–2006) who died at the age of 95, Bernadette Metz (1917–2010) who died at the age of 93, Vincent Baltes (1919–2016) who died at the age of 97, Maurice Baltes (1922–1993) who died at the age of 71, Muriel Anderson (1923–2020) who died at the age of 97, Francis Baltes (1925–2019) who died at the age of 94, and Robert Baltes (1930–2018) who died at the age of 88.

In 1941, he joined the army. After World War II, he worked for 18 years for the U.S. Postal Service. He spent his retirement years traveling, golfing and supporting his church. His advice for a long and healthy life is to never smoke or drink.

On 26 June 2024, following the death of 110-year-old Vincent Dransfield of New Jersey, he became the oldest documented living man in the United States.

On 29 October 2024, he celebrated his 110th birthday surrounded by family and friends. He received special recognition from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including a congratulatory letter from Secretary Denis McDonough.

Following his death, the new oldest documented living man in the USA is 109-year-old Edwin George Martin (born 15 February 1915) of Lehigh Acres, Florida.