Oscar John Forton, II

Oscar John Forton II passed away quietly on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016 at Nazareth Home. He was born March 31, 1923 son of Oscar John Forton I and Elma (Olson) Forton in Stoughton, Wisconsin. He attended Stoughton Schools graduating in 1941. In December of that year he married his high school sweetheart Beverly Ann Grefsheim. Oscar has been a civic leader in many capacities, including as an elected alderman for 8 years and as a member of the Stoughton Planning Commission. He supported local schools as a member of the Stoughton High School Honorary "S" Club and as an original member of the school district's Strategic Planning Committee. He was a respected leader of the business community as the long-time owner of the Forton Mobile Service Station and as a member of the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce for three decades. He is a life-long member of First Lutheran Church, where he served on the church's governing council and as an usher for many years. He has been an active supporter of countless community service groups and organizations. He was elected to Stoughton's Hall of Fame. In 1980, Oscar and his wife Beverly were honored by being named King and Queen of Stoughton's Syttende Mai Celebration. He is proud to be a charter member of the Green Bay Hall of Fame. He attended both Wisconsin and Green Bay football games for over 30 years as a season ticket holder. We have seen him sing Varsity everywhere including fancy restaurants and many tailgate parties. Civic leader, volunteer, community booster, businessman; Oscar wore many hats in his lifetime but most of all, he was a fireman. His lasting legacy will be the five decades he served as a member of the Stoughton Fire Department from 1942 until his retirement in 1992. He served under four fire chiefs. He spent 6 years as the department's assistant fire chief. He was promoted to Chief (a title that he cherished and one that he was very proud of) in 1972 and held that position for 20 years The first part of his remarkable tenure was served under Giles Dow, another legendary Fire Chief. Even as far back as the age of 10 he knew he wanted to be a fireman. He would hang around the fire department and Chief Dow and other firefighters took him under their wing. On the way to a fire they would slow down long enough to pick him up from the side of the street so that he could watch them in action. He joined the department at the age of 19 (legal limit was 21) due to the shortage of men during WWII. He stayed on for the next 50 years. During his tenure as chief he continually modernized the department through acquisition of new equipment and the implementation of new technologies. He saw many firsts including the addition of the first female firefighter . In 1991 he helped launch the first Stoughton Fire Truck Parade. Over time he witnessed some of the most spectacular fires in the history of the community including the burning of the Original First Lutheran Church in 1944, the old Skaalen Home in 1946, the huge Mobil Bulk Plant fire in 1952 and the 1966 fire that destroyed the old Schultz Brothers Building. In a memoir Oscar wrote he said, "The chance to be a fireman for 50 years was a dream come true". Survivors include: his wife, Beverly, daughter Barbara Zander, sister/cousin Kathryn (Kvamme) Braukhoff. Grandchildren Mariah (Brian) Gause and Ben (Jenny) Zander. Great Grandchildren: Gabrielle and Carter Gause, and Vivian Zander. He was preceded in death by his son Oscar John Forton III, his parents and the two people who were his parents after the death of his Mother and Father Tut (Torstein) and Evelyn Kvamme. Funeral services will be held at FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH, 310 E. Washington St., Stoughton, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, the Rev. Richard Halom presiding. A private burial will take place at a later date. Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON STOUGHTON FUNERAL HOME, 1358 Hwy. 51N at Jackson St., Stoughton, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m., on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, and at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday. A complete obituary will be published in Thursday's edition. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson Stoughton Funeral & Cremation Care 1358 Hwy. 51 @ Jackson St. (608)873-4590