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A recent photo of Clarence Arens in the driveway holding a newspaper containing one of his favorite hobbies, the crossword puzzle.
Photo provided by Stephanie Goodrich and Ruth Robinson
Boy-aged Arens grew up in Holland, MI, in the 1920s.
Photo provided by Stephanie Goodrich and Ruth Robinson
Arens in uniform when he served in WWII. He said, “I didn’t have to serve in WWII because I lost my eyesight in my right eye, but I volunteered as a medic technician for three years before I was discharged.”
Photo provided by Stephanie Goodrich and Ruth Robinson
STERLING HEIGHTS — The world was a completely different place a century ago, when Clarence Arens was born. The year 1922 is when the USSR was founded, Babe Ruth signed with the Yankees and the first edition of Reader’s Digest was published.
One hundred years later, in 2022, more than 40 friends and neighbors gathered Dec. 7 to celebrate Arens’ 100th birthday at a luncheon at Antonio’s, though his actual birthday is Dec. 21.
Turning 100 is no small feat, but Arens is modest.
“They keep harping on this 100 bit, but I don’t think about it at all. I just get up, walk and do what I do,” he said.
A typical day in Arens’ life consists of exercising after he wakes up, breakfast and a daily 2-mile walk. He explains that getting up and moving makes him value the day. By the evening rolls around, Arens still hasn’t slowed down. He keeps 10- and 15-pound weights in the living room so he can work out while watching TV or doing a sudoku or crossword puzzle. He also enjoys reading the Bible or self-improvement books. “There’s always room for that,” he said.
His neighbor of over 20 years, Marge Starr, who serves as the vice president on the board at their condo association, recalls that Arens hasn’t slowed down since she’s known him. She struggled to keep up with him on walks 20 years ago when he was in his 80s and still does to this day.
“His walks are more like jogs,” she added.
Starr admires how physically and mentally active Arens is.
“He’s very sharp. He can run numbers in his head very quickly, and he’s up on everything, especially politics. You might not want to get into that with him,” Starr chuckled.
Arens earned the nickname “Captain Lightbulb” around the neighborhood because he makes a weekly run around the 81 units to ensure all the lights are illuminated. He believes the best way to better yourself is to help others.
“It makes me feel great just to help somebody, even if it’s just the smallest thing,” he said.
Arens also believes it’s important to be active and spend time outdoors. Growing up in Holland, Michigan, he recalls spending a lot of time in nature, from having a vegetable garden to hunting and fishing. Growing up during the Great Depression, it was a means of survival to have these skills, but fortunately, he also enjoyed doing these things.
Arens still loves nature, but his connection to it feels deeper now that he’s older.
“When you get older, you think differently. You get a more personal view of everything, whether it’s trees or flowers or anything. You begin to recognize what nature is all about,” he said.
He wishes kids would spend more time outside.
“I know there are kids out here somewhere, but I never see them. They have signs that say, ‘children playing,’ but I’ve been walking here for 20 years, and I never see them,” he said.
Arens expressed that his greatest accomplishment in life was meeting his late wife, Betty Jane, at a dance in Saugatuck. The two married in 1949 and were married for 58 years, during which they welcomed four children into the world. His advice to young people, other than staying active and appreciating the outdoors, is to “keep a positive outlook and attitude, because doing so brings about positive things.”
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