Charles Redwine turned 100 Sept. 27. Susanville Supermarket, where he has shopped since it opened, held a birthday party for him. Photo by Jordan Clary

Oct. 1, 2012 — Charles Redwine, of Janesville, has seen a lot in his life, as one might expect from a man who is 100 years old. Thursday, September 28, Susanville Supermarket held a birthday party for Redwine, one of their oldest customers.

Carla Reddin, Susanville Supermarket employee, organized the gathering. She said, “He looks just like he did when he shopped here 20-years ago. He's shopped here since 1968 when the store opened, and he shopped in the building when other businesses were here.”

Another supermarket employee said Reddin had done a lot of work organizing the party, which held a special meaning as Reddin's mother, who has passed away, shared the same birthday.

As well as customers, several of Redwine's family and extended family came to the party including grandson, Matt Lindeman, grandchildren, Taylor, Max and Jonathan Lindeman, Judy Lindeman who said she is “kind of a step-daughter” and granddaughter, Carrie Lindeman.

Carrie, administrator of Redwine Family Home for Disabled Men, which her grandfather founded, brought Redwine and several men from the home. She said two of the men, Ralphie Rosow and Michael Matheson, have been part of Redwine's extended family for more than 45 years and he helped raise them.

Although Carrie drove the group to the party, she said her grandfather has been DMV tested and is still driving.

Redwine was married to his wife, Ruth, for more than 50 years. He is the last remaining of six brothers and five sisters. Redwine's grandson, Matt, provided details of his grandfather's long and rich life. “He came from Kentucky in 1959,” he said, “and worked in Herlong for close to 20 years. He's a World War II veteran and was in Germany when Hitler was defeated. He has a key from Hitler's library door that he slipped in his pocket.”

Matt also said his grandfather used to go to school on a horse and was on Kentucky's first basketball team. He purchased 40 acres on Janesville Grade next to the property where the Bear Dance used to be held and lived in a hut for a year while he built a house for himself and Ruth. He still lives on the Grade.

Family friend, Fran Schmitzer, who came to the party at Susanville Supermarket, said she had asked Redwine what was the one thing he wished he had in the past that he has today. He answered, “Electricity.”