92-year-old man from Wheatfield turns 23 on leap day

Submitted by Elderwood Residences at Wheatfield

Fred Stoelzle, a long-term resident of Elderwood Residences at Wheatfield, turned 92 on Feb. 29 – though technically he’s only had 23 birthdays!

Elderwood Residences at Wheatfield staff and residents surprised him with a “Happy 23rd Birthday” cake in the dining room.

Fred was born Feb. 29, 1932, to Karl and Christine in Augsburg, Germany. He grew up with two brothers, Karl and Willy. He moved to the U.S. to live with an aunt in Staten Island in 1952. At age 21, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper. He also served in Korea and Japan.

Fred met his wife, Marianne, in the City of Tonawanda in 1953 while he was spending a furlough at an army buddy’s home. They wed in 1956 and raised two children, Peter and Karen, in North Tonawanda.

Fred was employed at Linde Air for 27 years as a senior designer in the engineering department. His hobbies include reading and listening to music. Fred is a very active member of the Elderwood at Residences at Wheatfield community.