Woman dies on 110th birthday
BY JAIME ANGIO Sun-Times Media February 3, 2012 1:40AM
Thomas Ising places a collection of photos of his family from his mother's room in a chair where she was to celebrate her 110th birthday at the Applewood Nursing and Rehab Center in Matteson, Ill., on February, 2, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: February 3, 2012 8:26AM
The celebration for Jane Ising’s 110th birthday was all set.
Her son and his wife were coming from Homewood to the Applewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Matteson, where monthly parties are held for residents turning another year older.
Mrs. Ising, becoming a “super-centenarian” — one of fewer than 100 alive worldwide, according to the Gerontology Research Group — would have the spotlight. There would be balloons, music and a cake: chocolate on chocolate, Mrs. Ising’s favorite.
But the German-born woman, who filled her life with world travels, teaching, community service and physical activity, died in her sleep early Thursday morning on her birthday.
“I had seen her two days ago,” said her son, Thomas Ising, 72, “and I knew she was weak and slowing down. So I wasn’t totally surprised, but I was surprised it happened when it did on this day. She lived her life to the fullest.”
Because of that, Thomas Ising, his wife Carol, and Applewood officials decided to stage a celebration anyway, recalling her remarkable life instead of marking her birthday.
Mrs. Ising was born as Johannah Ehmer on Feb. 2, 1902, in Berlin. She got a doctoral degree in economics and taught in Germany before working in research for many years at Berlin University.
She married Dr. Ernest Ising, a physics teacher whose “Ising Model” was used globally to solve complex physics problems.
Because Ernest Ising was Jewish, they had to flee Germany in 1938 when it became too dangerous to stay there under Adolf Hitler’s regime. They fled to Luxembourg.
“That’s the day the Germans went and broke up all the Jewish establishments,” Thomas Ising told those assembled in the Applewood activity room Thursday. “At that point, they came in, they destroyed the school, and so my parents escaped and my father took a bunch of the kids through the woods and kids to get on the train so that they would be safe.”
The Isings stayed in Luxembourg until the end of World War II, then moved to the United States.
They spent most of their lives in Peoria. Ernest had been recruited to teach physics at Bradley University, and Jane taught economics there and various courses, including German, in Peoria School District 150.
After Ernest died in 1998 at age 98, Mrs. Ising remained active, ice skating well into her 80s and swimming even in her 90s.
Mrs. Ising moved to Matteson to live at Applewood in 2007. That same year, the center’s activity director, Tiffany McMullam, started her job there. They formed a special bond.
“I’m going to miss her very much,” McMullam said. “She was such a sweet lady, very kind and extremely generous.”
Thomas Ising, who earned degrees in both physics and economics, spoke Thursday of his mother’s love for liver sausage and butter sandwiches and how they would discuss politics.
“It was an interest of hers. She and I didn’t agree. . . . I sort of changed and she didn’t,” he said, laughing.
According to the Gerontology Research Group, which tracks “super-centenarians,” there were only 73 living people at least 110 years old worldwide as of Saturday. But Mrs. Ising was not Illinois’ oldest resident. Shelby Harris, of Rock Island, will celebrate his 111th birthday on March 31, according to the research group.
Mrs. Ising is survived by her son Thomas, two grandchildren five great-grandchildren.
Memorial services are pending, and Mrs. Isling will be cremated. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Bradley University Ising Scholarship Fund.
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