ZEELAND, Mich. (WOOD) — This Saturday is Veterans Day, a day to honor the men and women who have served in the military. Dewey Furman, a 99-year-old World War II Navy veteran, will turn 100 on March 15th.
However, he is not what one might expect from his age, which is about a century old. Ferman lived through it all: the Great Depression, World War II, 9/11, the Vietnam War, and a global pandemic.
The 99-year-old Navy veteran spends his days at Royal Park Place in Zeeland, Michigan, the same apartment building he lived in for 32 years until his wife passed away less than a year ago. Both were the first residents to move into the nursing home after it was built. They were together for 73 years.
At age 18, shortly after graduating from Fulton High School outside Lansing, Furman enlisted in the Navy, where he served for four years. He spent his 40 days on Omaha Beach and fought in the Normandy invasion.
During a visit to Ferman, he showed off a hat similar to the one he wore while on duty. He said he is proud of his time in the Navy.
“I think being in the Navy was really good,” he said.
If that’s not impressive enough, Ferman is still active at nearly 100 years old. He doesn’t use a walker or cane and always uses the stairs. Just six years ago, he started lifting his 80-pound weight his 40 times. every day.
“I came here and worked on it before, but to accomplish this particular program, 80 pounds 40 times, that’s what I settled on,” he said. Ta.
But in addition to staying in shape, he also makes sure to stay connected to his two sons, who live out of state.
Asked Wednesday about the secret to his nearly century-long run, Freeman credited several things.
“I thank God for my health,” he said. “Secondly, what you saw there is exercise…keep your body moving. And I try to watch what I eat. I try to keep it simple and healthy.”
