Onalaska resident going strong at 102-years-old says staying active is key to longevity

LA CROSSE (WKBT)-- Longevity runs in Bob Everitt's family.

"My mother lived to 110. I figured I stole all her genes," said Everitt.

At 102-years-old, Everitt has outlived his siblings.

"My two sisters never made 90 and my two brothers never made eighty," he recalls.

After fighting in World War II, the veteran never thought he would live to be this old. He says staying active is key.

"I danced a lot and I bowled," he said.

Everitt has been dancing since he was five years old. Each week, he exercises with a volunteer at Brookdale Assisted Living, where he now calls home.

Shayna Schertz is a Health and Wellness Coordinator at Gundersen. She stresses the importance of exercise, saying it is one of the key elements to living longer. If you can't do a full workout, Schertz says just getting up is helpful

"It's going and doing chores, just any time we're up and not seated is a really good time to increase those steps," said Schertz.

She also says steps are a critical part of overall health.

"Eighty percent of adults don't get the right physical activity. Twenty percent aren't getting any physical activity," said Schertz. "Studies show that we need to be more active. Our activity levels have decreased over the years."

She also suggests anyone who wants to live beyond 100, to get moving as early as you can.

"Children, make sure that they're up and being active, they're not sitting inside on the computer. Then as you get into your teen years, being active [and] participating in sports."

As for Everitt, he says he'll keep on moving. He still dances every week at the Concordia Ballroom.

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