A Leap of Faith and Family: 100-Year-Old Veteran Skydives, Grandson Proposes, Four-Generation Jump Planned
You’re never too old to jump out of a perfectly good airplane—just ask Steve Jeziorski.
Steve Jeziorski, the 100-year-old Army veteran from Valley City, who fought with the legendary 104th “Timberwolf” Infantry Division across Europe during World War II, took to the skies (and then very quickly back to Earth) on Saturday afternoon in an unforgettable tandem skydive that left the crowd gasping, cheering, and tearing up—sometimes all at once.
Friends, family, a battalion of proud veterans, Ashland’s local heroes, and a slew of dignitaries including State Representative Melanie Miller, Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, Ashland County Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider along with Former Sheriff E. Wayne Risner gathered at the Ashland County Airport to cheer on Jeziorski as he suited up to do what most people are still too scared to do.
And just to make sure it was a true family affair, Steve wasn’t alone—he jumped with his grandson, David Jeziorski, who somehow made this heart-stopping adventure even more memorable by proposing to his girlfriend shortly after touching down. Spoiler alert: she said yes.
“Honestly, I’ve been wanting to skydive for years,” said David. “I asked my girlfriend—now fiancée—but she said ‘no.’ So I asked Grandpa. And he said, ‘Sure!’ I guess when you’ve stormed through Germany, jumping out of a plane just feels like another Friday.”
But the most surprising part? Steve Jeziorski wants to do it again.
“That was great,” Steve said with a grin. “I’d want to do it again.”
So his family hatched a plan.
George Jeziorski, Steve’s son, explained, “Dad said he’d love to jump again, so what are we planning? We’re planning a jump for his 101st birthday—but here’s the exciting part: it’s going to be a four-generation jump.”
That’s right—next year, Steve, his son George, grandson David, and great-grandson Anthony (who turns 18 just in time) are planning to all leap from the skies together. “This is really turning into a family event,” George added. “I didn’t want to do it this time, but after I talked to my dad and David, they both said maybe the first five seconds were scary, and then after that it was just relaxing and great.”
Skydiving: the new Jeziorski family tradition.
It wasn’t just a casual leap, either. After several postponements, this jump was the fourth attempt, and as David put it, “the fourth time’s the charm.” The skies cleared, the wind calmed, and the stars aligned for the daredevil duo to finally take flight with instructor Dereck Dittman of Aerohio Skydiving, with outside video and photo coverage from Sherry and Andrew Butcher.
David described the moment with all the awe you’d expect: “I saw Grandpa jump and I thought, ‘Well, I can’t chicken out now.’” And just like that, both men plunged from the plane, defying gravity, age, and expectations.
“It was hard not to shed a tear as you watched this veteran calmly soar back and forth across the blue sky carried by his red, white and blue parachute,” said Mayor Matt Miller. “When you consider all that he has seen over the past century, and now for him to have such a powerful and unbelievable experience—this is truly a man who is living his life to the fullest. He is a great example of someone not allowing fear determine his destiny.”
Ashland County Sheriff Kurt J. Schneider, clearly impressed, Commented: “It takes a lot of guts to do this at his young age. The Ashland County Sheriff’s Office thanks you for all you’ve done for our nation—and today, for showing us how to truly live.”
Former Sheriff E. Wayne Risner added, “This man has lived a great life. It was a privilege to witness this great American hero take the plunge at 100 years old. We should never forget his service—or his fearlessness!”
The whole affair felt more like a Hollywood movie than a skydive in rural Ohio. There was an honor guard from Ashland VFW Post 1067, red-white-and-blue pride in full swing, and the kind of electric energy you only get when something extraordinary happens in your own backyard.
And just when the cheering died down from Steve’s smooth landing, David casually strolled over to his girlfriend, dropped to one knee, and popped the question. She said yes. The crowd went wild.
“I wanted to do it with some meaning,” David said. “This felt like a pretty big situation. I mean, how do you top skydiving with Grandpa and then proposing? I think I just peaked.”
Honestly, we think they both did. And next year, they might top even that—with three generations following Grandpa out the door at 14,000 feet.
As for Steve Jeziorski, the man of the hour (and arguably the century), he waved to the crowd like a champ, smiling from ear to ear, soaking in a day few will forget. And while he didn’t say much after the jump, let’s face it—when you’re 100 years old, fought Nazis, and just hurled yourself out of a plane strapped to a stranger named Dereck, you’ve earned the right to let your actions do the talking.
