Jeffrey Alan Garton
June 06, 1968 - May 03, 2015
Obituary
Garton, Jeffrey Alan "Hefe"
OREGON – Jeffrey Alan Garton, age 46, of Oregon, passed away from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday, May 3, 2015. He was born on June 6, 1968, in Milwaukee, the beloved son of Ronald and Kathleen (Fodor) Garton. Jeff graduated from La Follette High School in 1986, playing tennis and volleyball. He later graduated from MATC and UW-Whitewater with a degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology and was in the U.S. Army Reserves during that time. He married Jill Jones on Oct. 26, 1996, in Prairie du Sac, and they had two wonderful sons, Casey Macallister, age 14, and Cody Jameson, age 13. Jeff was very involved with all their sports and Boy Scouts. He was a police officer with the Village of Maple Bluff and later the Town of Madison until an on-the-job accident forced an early retirement. Jeff was a lover of music and was also a huge sports fan, especially anything Badgers (get out the red)! At age 12 he began selling pop at Camp Randall and later held Badgers football season tickets. Jeff also participated in fantasy football and baseball leagues. In recent years, he enjoyed taking his Corgi, "Bucky", to Oregon Nursing Home and the UW student dorms and also yoga. Jeff was a wonderful son, dad, brother and friend to many and will be missed forever by all. He was in a lot of pain these last years and is now at peace. Jeff is survived by his parents; wife; sons; and sister, Nicole (Scott) Laufenberg and their daughters, Hannah and Lauren; his grandmother, Elizabeth Fodor; uncle, John (Nancy) Fodor; aunts, Sue (Larry) Lick and Barb Fodor (Paul Gantriis); and his cousins, Lynn, Ben, Bob and Andrea. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Floyd and Beulah Garton of Eau Claire; and grandfather, Andrew Fodor of South St. Paul, Minn. Memorial services will be held at PEOPLE'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 103 N. Alpine Parkway, Oregon, at 2 p.m., on Friday, May 8, 2015. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr., Madison, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., on Thursday, May 7, 2015, and also at the church from 1 p.m. until the time of the service on Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jeff's children's education fund. "Go Badgers!" Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608)221-5420
Events
Visitation
Thu May 7, 2015 @ 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Visitation
Fri May 8, 2015 @ 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM CDT
People's United Methodist Church (Oregon) • 103 N Alpine Parkway, Oregon, WI 53575
Service
Fri May 8, 2015 @ 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CDT
People's United Methodist Church (Oregon) • 103 N Alpine Parkway, Oregon, WI 53575
Photos
Memories
DP
Don Penly
Other •
Jeff trained me in the use of Pepper Spray back in 1999 when I worked with him at the Village of Maple Bluff Police Department. As in he sprayed me. Not a bunch of fun, but looking back I have to laugh. My prayers for his family and friends. DP
E
Erika
Other •
Prayers to all your family.
Doug and Erika Kalscheuer
SR
Sandi Reichert
Other •
Thoughts and prayers are with Jill, Casey and Cody. Jeff was a wonderful man. Willing to help out when needed, enjoyed playing poker with him and watching the Crew at his house. May Peace and the Love of God carry the family through this difficult time. Ron and Sandi Reichert.
DM
David Michael
Other •
Dear Ron and Kathy: You son was one of the first young people we met when we came to Lake Edge. He as warmhearted, goodnatured and kind. Over the years since than we have seen him become a gifted police officer whose career was cut short by an injury for which there seems to have been no real way of recovering. He continued to be a loving dad and son, and we can't imagine how much it must hurt you and his kids to be so suddenly without him in your lives. We will surely hold you in our hearts in these hard days, and stand with you in whatever ways are available to us.
With great sympathy and affection
Dave and Linda Michael
AL
Andrew Larson
Other •
I am so sorry for the loss of this wonderful man. Jeff was a friend of mine in High School at LaFollette. I was not a popular kid--I was a year under Jeff--he always took me under his wing and invited me along to play football with his "big kid" friends--who drove me around in their cars and treated me like one of the guys. He was truly big hearted and accepting and he was such a dear dear friend because of that to me. Over the years, I saw Jeff--when he sold drinks at the Field House--he always had a smile for me. Then I lost track of him during his police years--and had the fortune to become his friend on Facebook. Just last year, I was really lucky to get together with Jeff and travel with him to see Bob Mould live in Milwaukee. He came prepared with CDs and music to listen to "hype up" for the show. We had a blast. I got up tonight because I could not sleep--and saw the obituary. I am completely heart broken to lose Jeff. At the same time, I am also so very very happy that I had the time I had with him . During our trip to Milwaukee we talked about pain we experienced and how to manage it and how to live our lives in the moment. Now more than ever--I will take heed to this conversation with Jeff. I also can not listen to INXS without thinking about Jeff--as the two of us saw them live together--no one else wanted to go back in '86--So--In honor of Jeff--I am going to spin INXS and Bob Mould--Husker Du, this week--and forever more, those bands are his. I am so sorry to his wife , children, and family. My heart goes out to you--because you truly know how special Jeff was--your hearts must hurt so much--I wish you healing and calm.
Sincerely Yours,
Andrew Larson
SG
Scott Gregory
Other •
Jeff's Town of Madison PD ID photo from 2009.