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SOUTH JORDAN — Wayne Ursenbach, a World War II veteran, has officially lived 100 years. His secret to longevity is no secret — when asked how he made it so far, he simply said, "Keep breathing."
Shortly after marrying his wife Bernice, Ursenbach was drafted into the Army in 1943 to serve in World War II. He served in the 289th Infantry Battalion, a group vital to the infamous Battle of the Bulge. Only 42 of the 178 men in his infantry went home from the battle.
Drafted during his junior year at Brigham Young University, Ursenbach returned home in 1946 to complete a bachelor's degree at BYU and a master's degree at the University of Utah, both in chemistry.
Ursenbach and his wife went forward to have seven children and reach 77 years of marriage before Bernice Ursenbach passed away in 2021. Wayne still reflected fondly on his wife at a social for his birthday Monday, saying she was the most amazing thing he had seen in his 100 years.
Now, Ursenbach has seven children, over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.
"He was good, so good, at everything he did," said Stephen Ursenbach, Wayne Ursenbach's oldest child. Stephen Ursenbach said what truly defines his father is his dedication to God.
Stephen Ursenbach recounted his father's work ethic, reflecting on the work Wayne Ursenbach did with the University of Utah to conduct explosives research and innovate using explosives in open pit mines.
"In a nutshell, he figured out what his moral compass was, his principles for what he wanted — to give service to his community, to his family and to his professional life. And he did it all the time," Stephen Ursenbach said, remembering his father waking up early in the morning to tend to his garden before going to work, only to come home and transition into duties he had in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Stephen Ursenbach said, "Everything he ever did, he did with excellent professionalism, and was able to cram it all in and be a good dad and be a really good husband."
Wayne Ursenbach worked professionally until his late 70s, when he and his wife chose to serve a couple's mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, assigned as leaders at the church's temple in Laie, Hawaii.
"We're all so dang proud of him," Stephen Ursenbach said.
