By Bill Petzold
Editor
VASSAR — Except for a real bummer of an 87th birthday, Kate Roth’s countdown to 100 years of age has been a fun chance for friends and family to celebrate her life and to catch up with each other. Kate will reach that 100-year milestone Thursday.
Kate was born on September 11, 1914 — the sixth of 10 children — to German immigrants Elizabeth and Paul Weber, who farmed 80 acres on Bradleyville Road in Gilford Township.
Now, a century later, Kate’s family and friends are preparing for a birthday celebration that has become an annual event. Kate’s daughters, Jean Mills and Donna Gillies, will host an open house in her honor beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, September 13 at Mills’ home at 630 Saginaw St. in Vassar, one block south of M-15 on the corner of Emerson and Saginaw streets. Everyone is invited and lunch will be served.
Gillies said they’ve had a get-together for every one of Kate’s birthdays since she reached the age of 85 in 1999. The sisters get out the roasters, cook up a ton of food and invite everyone over for Kate’s birthday. They put up a tent and friends and family gather and chat in the yard.
“It’s kind of a way of getting the family together,” Gillies said, “You get to see how everybody’s doing.”
This year, all four of Mills’ children – Daniel, John, Susan and Bill – will be able to attend, traveling from Virginia, Florida and Missouri. It will mark the first time all four have been in the same place in perhaps 15 years. Kate has 11 grandkids, 21 great-grandchildren, and her second great-great-grandchild is expected to be born on her 100th birthday. There is a third great-great-grandchild also on the way in coming months.
Kate’s younger sister Mary Downing, 96 of AuGres, also is expected to be there.
And Elvis will be there. Not the real Elvis, as far as anyone can tell, but a very entertaining Elvis impersonator who has performed for Kate’s birthday before. He’ll begin the hip-swiveling at 1 p.m, and Gillies said at his last performance — it was quite a while before Elvis left the building.
At age 100, Kate remains in good physical health and doesn’t even take prescription medication, which is a rarity.
“I don’t know, I live right, that’s all,” Kate said. “That’s how you live longer.”
Kate’s oldest four siblings had been born in Germany, and neither of her parents spoke any English. Kate grew up working seven days a week on the farm with her family, although work was finished by 4 p.m. Every Sunday, the kids would help out, topping and piling sugar beets by hand. Kate said she could get a row ahead of everyone else because she was fast at harvesting. She and her siblings went to a country school, but their school year only began when the harvest was finished and they could be spared from the farm.
Kate married Ervin Roth on January 13, 1940, and the couple raised three children: Donna, Jean and Charles Roth. Kate also worked for Saginaw Grey Iron. After she retired and her husband died, Kate lived in Bradington, Florida. “For quite a few years, it was good living,” Kate said.
She moved back a few years ago to be closer to her family.
Friends wishing to help Kate celebrate her 100th birthday can stop by the house beginning at 1 p.m. For a meal and live entertainment. Those wishing to send a birthday card may send it to Kate Roth, 630 Saginaw St., Vassar, MI 48768. Gifts are not necessary, but Kate does enjoy candy.
When pressed for the secret of her longevity, Kate offered this advice:
“I live the way you should: take everything you can get and enjoy it, because you only live once.”