Life expectancies are growing in the United States as we make advances in technology and health care. Diane Ballweg spoke about aging at the Oct. 14 Rotary meeting, and to demonstrate technological advances, she said when the Wright brothers went on their first flight, they had to flip a coin to see who’d be on the plane; planes couldn’t carry both at the time. 

Until 1920 or so, there were just two stages of life – youth and middle age – as the average age of death was in the 50s. The U.S. had focused on science, but with people dying of polio and influenza, that shifted to health care and the medical world. 

Today, experts say life has four stages grouped from ages 0-25, 25-50, 50-75 and 75-100. That’s according to Sarah Lawrence Lightfoot, author of “The Third Chapter.” The third chapter is ages 50-75 and old age is 75 to 100. For people born today, the average life expectancy is 107, and Diane noted that will have major implications for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. 

Today, one-third of the population lives until age 90. In 1980, 4% of the population was over age 65; today, that age group is 25% of the population.

Longer life expectancies are causing couples to have more empty nest years together when they begin to rebuild their relationships. 

Diane also brought up the happiness factor, noting that people are happiest when they’re younger, but begin to rediscover happiness later in life when they can do what they want. 

She also talked about a study of men who have married four times, noting that on average, the new wife’s age decreases with each marriage, and the reason for marrying changes. 

As for causes of death, Diane noted that 60% of the population is obese. Obesity is the second leading cause of death after smoking, she said, adding that consumption of sugar has increased. 

Finally, Diane asked what you are doing with Chapter 3 of your life.

“You should be giving back,” she said. 

Other News

-Food for Kidz is Sunday, and with few people signing up for the 10 a.m. shift, it’s been moved to the later shift. 

-The later shift will give people time to attend the Fire Department’s Pancake Breakfast. 

-Work on the Rotary Lights display will begin Oct. 22 and Oct. 29. Ross Mauer says please show up. 

-The District Governor will attend the Oct. 27 meeting. Again, please show up. 

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Guests: Ben Ballweg, guest of Ken Ballweg; Gabrielle Hamele, guest of Randy Guttenberg.

Visiting Rotarians: None.

Birthdays: Oct. 21, Linda Olson.

Anniversaries: Oct. 22, Dean and Kathy Grosskopf; Oct. 24, Max and Kate Ujdak.

Greeters: Oct. 20, Phil Willems and Rich Wipperfurth; Oct. 27, Chris Zellner and Cassey Zickert.