Winneconne Planet War II veteran celebrates 98th birthday

WINNECONNE (NBC26) — Jack Rosenkranz sees himself as just a normal man.

“I am just one of the people in the neighborhood,” he said.

His neighbors see him as a dwelling legend.

“He’ll say he just did his position,” reported Al Krueger. “Or, he was no diverse than any individual else. But the veterans that really observed overcome like he did, I acquire my hat off 100 moments to those men.”

Rosenkranz, an Oshkosh indigenous, graduated from substantial college on June 11th 1942. The following working day, he was in the navy. Serving overseas for four yrs, he was a tail gunner for an avenger flown off the U.S.S. Yorktown.

“You don’t know what is likely to come about,” he mentioned. “It is an working experience I’ve never ever gone by way of before.”

Only all around two percent of the 16-million American Entire world War II veterans are however alive nowadays, in accordance to the U.S. Section of Veterans Affairs. Right after living following to the former navy pilot for 30 several years, the Kruegers considered it would be exclusive to celebrate Rosenkranz on this significant working day, primarily due to the fact quite a few of the neighbors have been given COVID-19 vaccines just lately.

“To pay attention to the stories, and to think all all those brave folks that in no way came again, and to consider how fortunate Jack was,” claimed Al Krueger. “We’re fortunate that he’s below.”

When Rosenkranz came back again to Northeast Wisconsin after serving, he met his wife, Audrey, who passed absent a couple many years in the past. He doesn’t plan on leaving any time soon his kids reside in the Oshkosh place, and his neighbors have constantly been family members far too, he mentioned.

“We’ve acquired to choose care of each individual other,” said Cindy Krueger. “It doesn’t issue if we are not associated, or whatsoever. It is really a feeling of your community, and group is crucial for the reason that we all need just about every other.”

The solution to living a very long and healthy everyday living is getting treatment of your human body and never ever using daily life also seriously, claimed Rosenkranz.

“I you should not experience like 98 at all,” he explained. “I truly feel the similar. The only issue I bought to go by is the date. Otherwise, I really feel fantastic.”

Rosenkranz programs to invest the rest of his significant working day enjoyable — right after a rapid take a look at to the doctor’s business.

“It truly is just a different day,” he claimed. “An additional day that I can appreciate. That’s about the most effective way to place it.”