Minnesota's oldest resident celebrates her 113th birthday

April 15, 2021 at 5:36PM

Erna Zahn, Minnesota's oldest resident and among the 10 oldest people in the U.S., celebrated her 113th birthday Wednesday with a gathering at the Sleepy Eye Coffee Co. in the small Minnesota city about two hours southwest of Minneapolis.

Zahn, who lives at the Oak Hills Living Center in New Ulm, Minn., was greeted by a display of photos from the early part of her life, above right, and friends and family members who hadn't been together for more than a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Read more about Zahn and her life in our recent Curious Minnesota report.

Erna Zahn's was greeted by friends and family including her nurse Cindee Krzmarzick, left, as she was wheeled into a birthday party held for her at the Sleepy Eye Coffee Company, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Sleepy Eye, MN. ] ELIZABETH FLORES • liz.flores@startribune.com
Erna Zahn was greeted by friends and family including her nurse Cindee Krzmarzick, left, as she was wheeled into a birthday party held for her at the Sleepy Eye Coffee Company, Wednesday, April 14, 2021 in Sleepy Eye, Minn. (Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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Zahn was greeted by friends and family including her granddaughter Kim Schmitz, left, and her great granddaughters Olivia Schmitz, center, from Nebraska, and Emma Schmitz, right, from Michigan. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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Photos of Erna Zahn in her earlier years were on display during her 113th birthday party. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
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