'Read A Lot': World-Record-Holding Wisconsin Centenarian Offers Life Advice

GREENFIELD, WI — At 100-years-old, Greenfield resident Geraldine "Gerry" Bulger has lived through a lot.

She was born on April 3, 1921, just 8 years before the Great Depression took hold of the world. During those hard times, Bulger can recall eating a lot of canned soup and finding ways to keep herself entertained without television, which didn't become commercially available until the 1940s.

She's witnessed first-hand how American culture has changed over a century of life. Now, she and three of her siblings are Guinness World Record holders.

Bulger, along with her siblings Robert Goebel, Richard Goebel and Marjorie Gilmartin, have lived a combined 383 years and 147 days. It's the highest combined age of any four living siblings in the world, according to Guinness World Records. All four were born to Walter and Anne Goebel.

Going on 101, Bulger is the oldest of the bunch. Her siblings live in Chicago and Sheboygan. The youngest of the four, Richard Goebel, is 93-years-old.

Their world record was certified in November 2021. Bulger currently lives at Clement Manor Assisted Living in Greenfield.

Patch was curious about what advice Bulger may have to offer the world with her centenarian status, so her daughter, Ginny Cowan, helped us out. Bulger recalled the times she was born into, and the tribulations they brought.

"As a child of the Depression, we made the most of what we had available," Bulger said in a written statement to Patch. "For example, our 'healthy diet' included Campbell's soup provided by two uncles who worked in packaging for Campbell's."

She said they had an adequate diet, but there was no overeating.

"Exercise was also important but TV did not exist so we made up our own recreation and fun," Bulger's statement reads. "Lifelong friendships have contributed to my long life too."

Bulger said the biggest change she's seen in her century was how people communicate.

"We wrote letters and could not even afford a telephone when I was young," Bulger said. "Now people use computers and cell phones to instantly communicate."

Bulger said she feels true satisfaction to be recognized by Guinness World Records for her family's simple, long and fulfilling life. Her niece nominated her for the record.

Her advice for young people seeking happiness today?

Read a lot and find an interest that grabs you. Once you find that interest, follow it and develop it in any way you can.

"Find a club, research it more, make it into a job, share it with other people," Bulger said.

In Bulger's case, her interest has been Major League Baseball. She's proclaimed herself as the "biggest and best Brewers fan ever" and hopes to cheer her team on this season, a news release from Clement Manor said.