Elgin man celebrates 100th birthday: 'It's wearing me out'
Elgin resident Melvin Wilkening has been waiting a century for the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series.
He celebrated his 100th birthday with family Sunday, July 31, as the Cubs beat the Seattle Mariners at Wrigley Field.
His daughter Carol Stonecipher thinks he's "sticking around" until the Cubs win the World Series.
"That's what he said his whole life, he wasn't going to die until the Cubs win," his wife Dorothy Wilkening said.
The Wilkenings raised Stonecipher and their three other children - Richard Wilkening, David Wilkening and Cathy Newby - as Cubs fans.
"That was always part of our vacations, we would always go to Cubs games, so we are all Cubs fans," Stonecipher said.
Born and raised in Elgin, Melvin grew up on East Chicago Street and spent time at Lords Park Pavilion.
"I got chased by the swans a few times out there when I would get too close to their nest," he recalls. "I didn't stand around for that. I took off."
He went to grade school in Elgin's public schools except for second grade when he attended St. John's Lutheran School. He also attended Elgin High School.
In 1943 Melvin went into the Army and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands, an archipelago that separates the Bering Sea from the Pacific Ocean by Alaska. He received an honorary discharge on Jan. 15, 1946.
Before and after the Army, he worked at the former Elgin National Watch Co. until they had to lay off some of their workers including Melvin. He then went to work for F.W. Means and Co., an Elgin towel and uniform company, while doing watch repairs on the side for about 11 different jewelers.
"I used to repair a watch for about $5 or $6. A jeweler didn't want to repair them. They want to sell a diamond ring for $100 and make a $50 profit. Why should they sit there and make $5 or $6 on watches when they can sell diamonds?" he said.
He retired when he was 60.
Melvin only had one comment about turning 100: "It's wearing me out."
His advice for living a long life: marry a good woman. Melvin and Dorothy celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in March.
"When I got married for life, that was the greatest day of my life," Melvin said. "It's respect. If you have respect for your partner, you'll get along."
Together they raised four children in the Sunset Park subdivision in Elgin. His family now consists of four children, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
"I'm just glad that all of us are around to see him celebrate. I guess it means we all have good genes," Stonecipher said. "He always said, 'You know you're old when all of your kids are collecting Social Security.'"
Though he isn't able to participate in all the activities he did before such as golfing, bowling and tending to his garden, Melvin has remained active.
He is an active 30-year member in the Golden K Kiwanis Club, volunteers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, and is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1307 in Elgin.
"I just say do what you can while you're able, and try to relax," he said. "I have no problem taking a nap."