According to the calendar, local realtor John Wiebe is only 22.5 years old.
The trick to getting to 90, says John Wiebe, is to live it day by day the best you can, enjoy, and have fun.
Wiebe is selling real estate, something he’s been doing since 1997, because he didn’t like retirement.
“I tried, and no. I have no intention of retiring. I’ll ride this horse until it drops.”
Hometown Realty Owner/Broker Kelly Boyko says Wiebe makes the office a great place to be.
“It’s just a pleasure having him around. He’s excellent at it, and he’s professional, hardworking - everything you want in a realtor.”
Wiebe’s having a good year, according to Boyko.
“It’s one of his best starts since he’s been there. He’s in the office every day and enthusiastic.”
Wiebe is a leap year baby, turning 90 years young this February 29.
“There’s a mistake on my birth certificate,” says Wiebe.
“We were so far away from the registrars, my mother gave the papers for me and my cousin to my grandfather, and when he took the papers in he registered me on my cousin’s birth date and my cousin on my birth date.”
John Wiebe grew up in Nuehorst, Saskatchewan, where he learned to drive at the age of 12.
“When I got my driver’s licence, it was a dollar.”
“You didn’t take a test or anything - you just paid the dollar.”
Wiebe says the only thing he would have done is further education.
“I was upset when I had to miss school, but I was the oldest of nine kids, and it was the ‘30s.”
“But I learned a lot through it - it’s a great education in itself.”
Wiebe says his mother was from Northern Saskatchewan and his father’s family came from Russia when his father was three.
“When I started school, I didn’t speak a word of English. My friend, Bill Ens - who was a year older than me - told me every time the teacher asks me ‘What’s your name?’ to say ‘pardon?.’ So I did, and I got the strap because he (the teacher) thought I was b.s.ing.”
“My nickname in school was Johnny Pardon,” he laughs.
Wiebe says he and Bill remained friends until Bill’s passing several years ago.
Wiebe has reached 50 years membership in the Royal Canadian Legion, having served in the Army Service Corps in the Second World War. He also ran a taxi company in Drumheller from 1950 to 1963.
As for downtime, Wiebe says he just wants to get back on the golf course, and is an active dart player and pool player.
“I’m in the pool league and I enjoy that immensely.”
Asked if there’s anything special he would like to do for his 90th Birthday, Wiebe answers: “Just be there.”
