Shiner native celebrates 100 years of life

  • Millie Migl is shown with her birthday cake.
    Millie Migl is shown with her birthday cake.
  • Millie requested music from Ronnie Bruns for her birthday party.
    Millie requested music from Ronnie Bruns for her birthday party.
  • Millie is shown with the Shiner Royalty Court.
    Millie is shown with the Shiner Royalty Court.
  • Mrs. Migl received a proclamation from the City of Shiner. She is shown with Officer Mikeska and Mayor Fred Hilscher.
    Mrs. Migl received a proclamation from the City of Shiner. She is shown with Officer Mikeska and Mayor Fred Hilscher.

    Shiner native, Millie Migl turned the golden age of 100 on Aug. 6. A party was held for this huge accomplishment at her current residence at the Shiner Nursing and Rehab Center on Aug. 4.
    From being a baker at Shiner ISD cafeteria to filling up gas, Migl has lived a prosperous and comforting life. She grew up on a farm and in her youth, she remembers riding horses to school.
    “I was raised as a farmer’s daughter. I was the youngest of the group and I stayed with my parents until I married at the age of 23. I was married for 72 years and I’ve had a busy life, but also a very happy life,” Migl said. “I never learned to drive a car, but I rode three miles taking my horse to school. I was born in a community between Gonzales and Shiner, we had the train coming through and only two grocery stores.”
    Migl has lived in Shiner all her life. She attributes her longevity of life to basking in the idyllic rural landscape on her farm and enjoying every moment of her life.“I lived on the farm all my life. I didn’t work in town or have a job until I started working at the school for 24 years baking desserts. We had over 400 students going to school here at that time and I knew the name of every child,” Migl said.
     “I was always very helpful to people in my life. Every morning when I wake up, I thank God. I’m still enjoying myself and I’m not ready for that hole in the ground.”
    She is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Migl said she doesn’t feel like she is 100, she still feels like the ripe age of 50.
    “She attends activities like bingo, exercises, and ring tosses. She will always come and give the activities a try,” Shiner Nursing Rehab Center Activity Director Cecelia Brooks said. “We had painting, and she drew a silhouette of a butterfly. Millie definitely has that spirit that she is going to try her best. She always gives us enjoyment and she loves to laugh. For her to be 100 years old, she is very self-reliant – she always roles herself in her wheelchair. She has that go-getter attitude; a lot of the ladies look for Millie before starting an activity.”
    Migl had the opportunity this past summer to be in the Half Moon Holidays parade. It has been about fifteen years since Migl had got to ride around Shiner looking at the city and she was in awe of the changes she saw in this clean city she calls home.
    “I drove the nursing home van in the parade and Millie got to ride in the van and one of the things that almost overwhelmed her with happy tears was to see how many people were out in the community showing love,” Brooks said. “Mrs. Migl knew the history of each of the buildings in Shiner and it was such a humbling experience to reminisce and see how much she knew of this community.”
    Migl saw the new Family Dollar in Shiner that day and she couldn’t get over how big the store was.
    Her birthday was celebrated at the Shiner Nursing and Rehab Center and Migl was able to take photos with the Shiner Royalty and listen to live polka music, her favorite genre.
    Having lived for as long as she has and experiencing the ups, and occasional downs, of life – she wants to remind everyone to cherish their loved ones.