The world’s oldest man dies two months before his 115th birthday: Venezuelan farmer and father-of-11 put his long life down to ‘working hard, going to bed early and carrying God in my heart’

The world’s oldest man died two months shy of his 115th birthday and attributed his long life to “hard work, going to bed early and carrying God in my heart.”

Venezuelan Juan Vicente Perez Mora leaves behind 11 children, 41 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

The former farmer became the oldest man in his home country in 2020 and officially became the oldest living man in May 2022 when he was recognized by the Guinness Book of Records.

His death was confirmed by Freddy Bernal, the governor of Tachira state in Venezuela, where he died.

Bernal said overnight on enthusiastic about family and tradition.

‘Together with my wife and children, we had the pleasure and pride of meeting him and sharing him with his loved ones.

‘My old Don Vicente, we will always remember him for his optimism in life, for his faith, hope and that deep love for our state Tachira.

“He will always be a symbol of goodness, wisdom and joy, and so his legacy will live on forever in our hearts and in our lives.

‘Rest in peace my dear old man, my Don Juan Vicente. We will never forget you.’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro added: “Juan Vicente Perez Mora has entered eternity at the age of 114.

‘From the town of El Cobre, he gave Venezuela the Guinness Record for being the oldest man in the world.

“I send my hugs and condolences to his family and to all the people of El Cobre, Tachira State. May God receive him in his holy glory!’

Juan Vicente was affectionately known as Tio Juan, which translates into English as Uncle Juan.

Vicente was born in 1909 and would have celebrated his 115th birthday on May 27.

He was the ninth child of ten, and at the age of five he began working in agriculture with his father and brothers, helping with the sugar cane and coffee harvests.

Vicente subsequently became sheriff in Caricuena in 1948 and was responsible for resolving land and family disputes for ten years, while still working in agriculture.

He married Ediofina del Rosario García and they were together for sixty years until she passed away in 1997.

When Vicente was crowned the oldest living man by Guinness World Records in May 2022, at 112 years and 253 days, they revealed: ‘His secret to a long life is ‘hard work, resting on holidays, going to bed early, a drink drinks’. glass of aguardiente every day, love God and carry him always in your heart.

“Besides farming, one of Juan’s main passions is building a strong relationship with God and his family. He is grateful for his life, but also for the food and the people around him.’

Vicente celebrated his 110th birthday in 2019, becoming Venezuela’s first male supercentenarian.

His daughter Nelyda Perez said at the time: ‘My father is in very good health. He is not suffering from any disease that requires medical treatment.

‘The next day, after resting, he says he wakes up feeling very good. The whole family is very grateful for my father’s health.’

During his long and incredible life, Vicente witnessed several notable inventions, such as television and the Internet.

When he was 51 years old, he had his identity photo taken in black and white for the first time.

Guinness World Records has not yet made an official comment on his death.

Spaniard Saturnino de la Fuente García was considered the oldest man in the world before Juan Vicente, until he died in January 2022, a month before his 113th birthday.

The father of eight children died on January 18, 2022 at his home in the northern Spanish city of Leon.

The retired shoemaker is said to have celebrated his birthday with his family on February 8 that year, the date he claimed to have been born, although official documents mention his birth as three days later.

Saturnino earned his place as the world’s oldest man in the Guinness Book of Records in September 2021 when he reached the ripe old age of 112 years and 211 years.

In addition to raising a large family with his wife Antonina Barrio, he had 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. One of the couple’s eight children, the only boy, died when he was still young.

Juan Perez was born on May 27, 1909 in El Cobre, Venezuela. He worked for fifty years, mainly harvesting sugar cane and coffee.

His wife died in 1997 after almost 60 years of marriage.

He died yesterday at his home in San Jose de Bolivar, Tachira.