MAUMEE, Ohio — When Victor Gressler takes the stage at his 100th birthday celebration on October 19, he won’t just be marking a milestone. He’ll be doing what he’s loved for nearly his entire life: making music that lifts others’ spirits.
The Elizabeth Scott Senior Living resident, a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, plans to play guitar and sing for his fellow residents, sharing songs from country legends like Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, and Jim Reeves. “He still plays, and all the songs are still in his head, even at 100 years old,” says his stepdaughter, Barbara Kurtz. “If an entertainer can’t make it, they’ll ask Victor, and he always says yes. He never turns down a chance to make people smile.”
Music has been a thread through Victor’s extraordinary life, which has been shaped by courage, hard work, and joy. Born in Toledo and raised in Maumee, he was just 16 when he left high school to enlist in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. “They didn’t look too closely at your age back then if you wanted to serve,” Kurtz says.
Victor trained at Naval Station Great Lakes before joining the crew of the Sommelsdijk, a Dutch transport ship carrying troops across the Pacific. His service took him to Hawaii, Guam, and New Guinea, where he contracted yellow fever and was sent home to recover. This was a twist of fate that likely saved his life. While he was away, a torpedo struck the ship’s sick bay, killing everyone there.
He later rejoined the ship and survived another brush with death when ammunition exploded as he helped clear the hold. Yet Victor rarely dwells on danger. Instead, he focuses on the good, including the music, the friendships, and the life that followed.
After the war, Victor returned home to marry his high school sweetheart and worked more than 30 years for a trucking company. In his free time, he played guitar and mandolin with his band, The Maumee Valley Boys, performing at local dances and gatherings.
Since moving into Elizabeth Scott Senior Living about a year ago, Victor has found a new audience and a new sense of home. His room is decorated with Navy hats and photos, and he’s a regular at Bingo, cards, and dice games. “When I call, I can never reach him. He’s always out doing something,” says Kurtz. “He loves the caregivers and nurses. He’s just so positive about life.”
As Victor prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday surrounded by music, friends, and memories, his outlook remains steady and straightforward. “He never has a bad day,” Kurtz says. “He’s upbeat, cheerful, and thankful for every moment. That’s just who he is.”
