As of 2021, a study of US records showed that out of 336,996,624 people in the US, 89,739 were Centenarians or someone who is 100 years old or older. At that time, Don Tietz was part of that special club at 101. Now, he can claim the title of “oldest living Cottage Grove resident” at 104 years old.
Tietz was the oldest of his 16 siblings with his youngest sibling being 19 years younger. He grew up in Iowa and lived with his parents until he was six. At that point, he lived with a variety of other family members who had less kids to help balance the cost of living. The families were mostly farmers, a trade that Tietz worked until he turned 21 when he was drafted for World War II.
“I got a call, we want you, and I took training for about four or four to six weeks, which wasn't much in Texas. He sent us to California where I was supposed to get on a boat there to go to Japan. The boat never showed up. So, since I was there, we walked guard along Long Beach for about three, four weeks. Then they pulled us out and we went to Camp Booker, Alabama. When we went down there, that's where we got the training. That's where they put 67-pound pack on my back, a nine-pound rifle and army boats. They did that, and we had to walk eight hours and 25 miles at a 10-minute break every hour,” explained Teezt.
His story telling is not quite what it used to be, but he still can spin a yarn for those willing to listen. He was having a good day during his birthday celebration according to family members.
Tietz was married “over 40 years” was the best math he could do on the spot. His wife Dolores passed when she was 68, today she would be 94. He also spoke of his 20 plus years as a mechanic for Chrysler in St. Paul and how when he was younger that a loaf of bread was only three cents and his brush with fame was the time he met and partied with Doris Day.
Tietz had two special guests from the City of Cottage Grove visit him, Mayor Myron Bailey and Police Chief Peter Koerner. The two enjoyed talking with Tietz and before they left, they presented him with two Challenge Coins, one specifically for the Cottage Grove Police Department and one for the City of Cottage Grove. He was also presented with the patch that the CGPD wears for Military Appreciation.
Happy Birthday to Don! We’ll see you next year at 105.
