At 100, Winnie Mack is still having fun

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more outgoing 100-year-old than Winnie Mack.

The Hartley woman turns a century old on Friday, but she still doesn't know where the time has gone. It's really no bother to her, though, because she follows one guiding principle.

"My motto is, 'Do the best you can with what you've got,' " she said. "I always say to take everything one day at a time, sweet Jesus."

Mack still lives alone in her Hartley home. She wears a Life Alert necklace at all times and receives Meals on Wheels, but she takes pride in her independence. She tries to walk four blocks a day outside when the weather allows it and keeps her mind sharp by reading devotions from her prayer book.

"Prayer time each morning is important to me," she said. "There are a lot of people to pray for and a lot of things to pray about."

The oldest of four children, Mack was born in Harcourt, Iowa on June 25, 1921, to Walfred and Genevieve Johnson. She received her education at Mallard, graduating from high school there in 1939.

Mack holds fond memories from growing up on the farm. She remembers picking corn with her father behind a team of horses and hurling the ears into a wagon.

"He didn't even have a tractor back then," she said. "I can also remember the windmill we had on the farm turning round and round like it was yesterday."

Mack worked as a secretary for her uncle and aunt in Wisconsin after high school before following them to Dayton, Ohio. She eventually got a civil service job at Wright Field during World War II, where she worked as a secretary for Lt. Gen. Kenneth Bonner Wolfe and Maj. Gen. Lester Miller.

"It was very interesting work," Mack said.

She eventually transferred to the Army Air Force base in Honolulu for one year before her heart started yearning for the Midwest.

"I felt then that I wanted to return to the United States, northwest Iowa and my home," Mack recalled.

She got a job in Laurens, where she would wind up meeting her future husband, Elmer. She remembers painting the town red during nights out early on in their relationship.

"We were quite the dancers and danced at many ballrooms across northwest Iowa," Mack said.

Winnie and Elmer married in 1950 and remained in the Pomeroy area before relocating to Hartley. The Macks moved to Cherokee Village, Ark., during their retirement. Elmer enjoyed golfing, while Winnie had fun joining a synchronized swim team with 10 other women.

The couple eventually returned to Hartley after a decade-long stay in Arkansas. Winnie started contributing articles to the Hartley Sentinel then, which she loved.

"I really liked interviewing interesting people about interesting things," she said. "We just thoroughly enjoyed the city of Hartley, its people and its facilities."

Elmer died in 2013. Though Winnie has been widowed for eight years, she doesn't feel alone.

"I have many gracious neighbors and church friends that help me with various favors," she said. "They are absolutely wonderful to me."

Mack's advice for longevity is to stay active.

"You have to keep your mind and body as busy as you can," she said.

Those wishing to celebrate Mack's milestone can do so in person on Sunday, June 27 from 1-3 p.m., during an open house at her home, 460 1st St. NW, Hartley. Cards can be sent there as well.

"My house has been a busy, happening place the last week," said Mack. "It's been crazy here. I'm really looking forward to the open house."