Centenarian: Alfred Joseph Koenigs

Wed., May 24, 2006

The Spokesman-Review

Alfred Joseph Koenigs

Spokane

Alfred Joseph Koenigs is celebrating his 100th birthday today. He was born May 24, 1906, in Quincy, Wash. and has been a resident of Spokane for the past 85 years.

Koenigs met his wife, Charlotte, in Portland. They were married in 1942. She died in 1963.

In 1966 he married Alice, whom he met in Spokane. She died in 1993.

Koenigs worked in the shipyards in Portland during World War II. He later sold real estate before graduating from Mohler Barber School in 1956.

He owned AJ’s Barber Shop on North Division Street until his retirement at age 75 in 1981. Prior to his full retirement, he had cut his work hours to three days a week beginning at age 65.

Koenigs attributes his long and healthy life to living by the good values taught to him by his parents, hard work, and his deep devotion to his Roman Catholic faith.

When asked what his most memorable moment in the past 100 years has been, he replied having his picture taken with the Gonzaga University Zags in April 2004.

Koenigs has one daughter, Karen Hamilton, Spokane; three stepchildren, Dolores Fish, Spokane, Lavern Mulvey, Lompoc, Calif., and Larry Heckle, Yuma, Ariz.; three grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; and numerous stepgrandchildren stepgreat-grandchildren.

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