Kutztown >> Members of Fitness by Ina in Kutztown celebrated the birthday of their oldest member, 93-year-old Emmett Fenstermaker Sept. 2.
Dona Jones, a desk worker and yoga teacher at the gym, organized a surprise by having gym members stop in and celebrate with carrot cake from Premise Maid and singing.
“I knew you were going to make a cake, but I didn’t expect all this,” said Fenstermaker.
Jones wanted to do something special for a person who has become dear to his fellow gym members.
“He’s 93 – well, first he’s Emmett – he’s a wonderful guy,” said Jones. “He’s our oldest member. He’s so fit for his age that nobody believes how old he is.”
Fenstermaker was greeted with smiles and hugs from his friends. The members of the gym signed a “Fitness by Ina” shirt for Fenstermaker as a memory of the day.
Fenstermaker has been at the gym for several years and usually works out five days a week.
“He’s like a fixture here,” said Jones. “He interacts with all the girls, and he’s just a really sweet, great guy.”
Fenstermaker began working out at the gym to improve his health.
“I was using a walker, and I had a hip replacement a while ago, too,” he said. “Now I don’t use the walker anymore.”
Fenstermaker keeps a simple routine, lifting weights and walking on the treadmill.
Fenstermaker and others at the gym have seen significant changes in his health and vitality since his routine began at Fitness by Ina.
“He walks pretty well, and he drives himself here,” said Jones. “He has family in D.C. He’ll drive to Washington on his own. He’s very active and independent. He cooks, bakes and works in his yard.”
Fenstermaker is a fixture not only at Ina’s, but also in the Kutztown community.
He grew up near Stines Corner in Lehigh County but moved to Kutztown after meeting his wife who lived in Bern. He has been in Kutztown for close to 40 years.
When Fenstermaker moved here, he began an apprenticeship at the Kutztown Foundry. Before being able to finish, he was drafted into WWII.
“I served in the Army about three years,” he said. “I was in New England. Then they sent me to France, and then I went to Germany. I was an engineer in the 79th Infantry Division.”
After completing his service in the military, Fenstermaker arrived home and finished his apprenticeship.
“My brother-in-law offered me a job over at the Hamburg Foundry then,” he said.
Fenstermaker continued to work and live in Kutztown until his retirement. Although his wife passed 14 years ago, he remains in the town living with his son Dennis.
For a period of time after his retirement, Fenstermaker took up woodworking as a hobby.
“He’d make benches and things for his grandchildren and other people who had babies being born into their families,” said Jones.
Fenstermaker has since quit the hobby, but he still has people who come to him and ask him to make benches.
Fenstermaker now uses his workouts as a hobby, forging friendships with the members at his gym and continuing to show up five days a week.
“If he’s not here, we get worried about him,” said Jones. “Ina’s is like a family of sorts. Everyone knows each other, and it’s comfortable.”
“Happy birthday, Emmett. You’re a treat,” said Jones as the 93-year-old blew out his candles.
The members at Ina’s look forward to celebrating Fenstermaker’s next birthday.
