Active and still living alone

For Shirley Schley, age doesn’t keep her from maintaining an active lifestyle, though it may be a tad slower these days with good reason.

Schley hit a remarkable milestone two years ago when she became a centenarian. As of 2020, there were 1,500 centenarians in Minnesota, an increase of more than 25% since 2010. She turned 102 last week.

And don’t think for a moment that Schley is resting on her laurels and not doing anything. In fact, she still lives in her own house in Owatonna where she has been since 1989. She previously lived on a farm near Bixby where she was born to Fred and Lydia Borchert on June 16, 1923.

Schley has a daughter, Pat Ptacek, two grandchildren, Jeff Ptacek and Jelaine Gwilt, as well as six great-grandchildren and five great, great-grandchildren. Jeff, and great-grandson, Scott, currently operate the farm.

Schley’s husband, Herman, passed away from colon cancer in 1987.

Every day, weather permitting, Schley rolls out her walker and wheels herself around her Owatonna neighborhood, often pushing herself to the nearby fairgrounds. She figures she walks at least a mile every day.

On Fridays, she hops on the SMART bus for grocery shopping at Hy-Vee. While shopping, she enjoys conversing with men more than the women, though she admits things got a little dicey during the last election cycle in 2024. “It’s a crazy world right now,” she said.

She gave up driving when she was in her 90s.

Schley is affectionately known as “Short Shirley” because of her shortness in height. “You’ve always been short, but cute,” said her daughter, Pat Ptacek.

While she doesn’t mow the lawn or blow the snow, Schley still maintains some of the yard work. In fall, she picks up all the leaves. She also has a tiny flower garden, which she admits is a bit rough for her to get to with the walker.

When she’s not wheeling around outside, there is housework to be done inside. She cleans her own house. Ptacek has offered to hire someone clean it for her. But that gets a resounding rejection.

“I can still do it,” Schley says. “As long as I can do it, why hire someone?”

And there’s plenty of other things to keep her occupied in the house. Among them making scrapbooks for family members. “This is all her handiwork,” Ptacek said pointing to large scrapbooks with information gleaned from area newspapers. “She loves cutting out obituaries and articles in the paper,” Ptacek added.

Schley enjoys puzzles and crafting Afghans, which she has done 50 already. She also likes doing Sudokus and word finds.

Throughout the years, she has been active with a Christian Women’s group at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna. When she’s not able to be in church in person, she watches on TV. “She has been very faithful,” Ptacek said.

She continues with the tradition of keeping diaries of her life—something she has done daily since she was 16 years old. “I write a lot, but I can’t read my writing,” she said with a smile. Ptacek assured her that others can read her writing.

Her days of golfing and bowling ended years ago. She also enjoyed volunteering at the Steele County Historical Society. During the holiday season, she helped out with the community dinners at the VFW Club in Owatonna.

As for turning 102, Schley quickly said, “I don’t feel it.” Asked what age she feels like, she responded, “Maybe 80.”

After a brief cancer scare back in 1965, Schley hasn’t had a medical issue since and remains healthy. The only issues she’s fighting are poor hearing and eyesight. She said she is faithful in taking her vitamins.

Living past 100 boils down to one thing for Schley. “Keep busy,” she said. “I can’t imagine people just sitting around.”

She loves to see family, friends and neighbors. “Her neighbors keep a good eye on her,” Ptacek said.

Ptacek has had her own health scares. She survived stage 4 cancer after having a hysterectomy. She has been cancer-free for the past six years. Ptacek isn’t sure what to think especially after a friend who had stage 3 cancer ended up dying. 

“I keep thinking why am I here. God kept me to take care of you,” Ptacek said looking at her mother. Ptacek lives about three miles from her mother’s house.

For Schley, this year’s birthday came with little fanfare as she celebrated big for her 100^th two years ago.

As Schley laments about not being able to do everything she once did, her daughter turned and reminded her, “I think you forget sometimes that you are 102. As long as God wants you around, we’re okay with it.”