Community Corner

Port Lifelong Resident Celebrates 100th Birthday

Edna Guenther, who turned 100 on Saturday, has a long family history with this city.

Things change over the years, but there probably aren't many people who can remember a time as different as Port Washington resident Edna Guenther can.

Guenther, who has lived in Port Washington all her life, celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday. Her family is well known to the Port Washington area, having run the cream city brickyard on land that is now home to a bandshell in , according to Guenther's niece Ann Horton. Guethner's family home used to sit where the , and still stands at 502 N. Holden St.

Horton, who lives in both Michigan and Florida, came to Port Washington for Saturday's birthday party. Horton's mother was Guenther's sister.

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“All the things that (Edna) can (talk) about, it’s just amazing," Horton said. "She's always been very inquisitive and she loves to loves to read and watch the news, and (keep) up with politics, (she) loves the Green Bay Packers, loves sports … she's very kind of ahead of her time —but all of her sisters were, too."

"(To be at the party) was very, I guess, rewarding — it brings tears to my eyes ... to see all the generations," Horton said, adding that Guenther seemed almost blown away by the amount of people that came out of the woodwork to celebrate her birthday.

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Lots of friends, family and other community members stopped by the birthday party — held at , where Guenther currently resides — including Port resident Monica Rowley.

"I (don't) know Edna real well ... I remember when we first moved to our Webster Street house she was always outside with her dog," Rowley said in an e-mail. "It was a tiny dog and I think his name was Buster. She was forever trying to get him to come by her. It was cute watching such a little lady run after an even tinier dog. She was always such a happy person who loved to joke around. Even at her birthday party ... she was grinning from ear to ear!" 

Horton said it seems that Guenther's key to living such a long life includes being actively involved — in the community, church and other ways — as well as being generous. 

"She’s always given to family, that’s why I think shes gotten so much back — because she’s always given so much … she’s given all her whole life," Horton said.


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