Ising On The Cake: 110-Year-Old Woman Leaves History As Her Mark

You couldn't help but notice the bright flowers peeking through a window to the north in the main entrance of Applewood Nursing Center. They stood out among empty grey windowsills.

The flowers belonged to Jane Ising.

Jane Ising left more than flowers, though; she left a life of 110 years.

Born in Berlin, Feb. 2 1902, Johanna Ehmer lived through more historical events than most of us ever will. She was 10 years old when the Titanic sank. She saw the birth of the digital age as a senior. Hundreds of historical moments dot her lifetime.

"110 years ago today, before the Wright brothers decided to fly the first airplane, my mother was born," her son, Thomas Ising of said.

Ising didn't want to cancel the birthday party planned that afternoon for his mother, Jane. Instead, he decided to use it as a celebration of her life.

"What can I tell you about my mother?" Ising pondered for a moment. "She got a PhD in economics. She did research with a professor at Berlin University. My mother went on trips to the Alps, an Alaskan cruise, a trip to the Suez canal. My parents went to almost every continent."

Things were not always so uplifting, however, when Hitler took over in 1933. Tom Ising spoke of his parents escape from outside of Berlin on Kristallnacht in 1933 when Jewish establishments were being broken up.

"My father, the director of the Jewish boarding school, took a bunch of kids through the woods, to get on a train so they would be safe," he told a small crowd in a lunchroom at Applewood.

"After that they tried to get out of the country but only made it to Luxembourg. That's where I was born," the 72-year-old Ising explained.

The Isings worked odd jobs Luxembourg until World War 2 ended, when they finally set sail to New York. Two years after arriving in America, his father got a job at Bradley University. Life for the Ising's fell into place.

"My mother helped found the Planned Parenthood in Peoria and then she went and taught economics classes,” Ising said. “My father passed away at the age of 98 and my mother lived in her home until she was 105."

After breaking a hip, Jane Ising came to Applewood Nursing Center in July of 2007. Everyone loved her at Applewood as they did in Peoria.

Tiffany McMullam, activity director shared her love for Mrs. Ising as well.

"It's a sad day but also a celebration of a long beautiful life. She was loved by everyone,” McMullam said. “I'm going to miss her generosity, she always shared whatever she had, whether it was a piece of cake or cookie, she would always offer it to others."

Volunteer Hospice nurse, Joan Werner of Homewood has fond memories of Ising as well.

"I was honored to know her and spend time with her,” Werner said. “She was an inspiration to all, I will miss her very much."

As Ising's life celebration was coming to a close, a question came from one of Applewood's employees:

"How do you think she kept herself healthy all those years?"

Her son was quick to respond.

"She was a terrible cook. She would cook something and pour salt all over it,” Ising said. ”She loved liver sausage sandwiches with butter and played the same musical instrument I do—the radio."

The crowd laughed and then went on to discuss among themselves how they knew the oldest resident of Applewood Nursing Center, Johannah " Jane" Ehmer Ising.