Charles W. Drotning

Charles Wilbur Drotning was a World War I Army veteran, longtime Stoughton jeweler and watch repairman, and dedicated member of American Legion Post 59 who served as Commander during the 1934–35 term.

Born September 11, 1895, in Stoughton, Wisconsin, Drotning was the son of Edward and Ella Drotning. As a young man, he worked as a watch repairman before entering military service during World War I.

Drotning entered the U.S. Army on May 24, 1918. He served with the 333rd Field Artillery of the 86th Division and was sent overseas to France in September 1918.

A January 1919 newspaper report announced that Drotning had arrived safely in New York on his return from France. During his overseas service, he had been stationed at Camp Hunt near Bordeaux, which served as a replacement camp.

He was honorably discharged on January 15, 1919.

After the war, Drotning attended Pacific Academy in Tacoma, Washington, where he learned the watch-repairing trade.

He returned to Stoughton and became associated with the Christensen Jewelry Store, where he worked for more than 40 years. During the final four years of his life, he operated his own watch-repair shop in Stoughton.

On August 24, 1920, Charles married Ella P. Gjertson. They had one daughter, Mary Carolyn Drotning, who later married David Armitage.

Drotning was involved with Post 59 for years before becoming Commander. Earlier Post records show him serving as Finance Officer, and he remained active as the organization developed during its early decades.

In June 1934, Drotning was elected Commander of Otis Sampson Post 59. Serving with him were First Vice Commander Verne Martin, Second Vice Commander A. R. Haven, Adjutant Glenn Blakely, Finance Officer Edor J. Everson, Sergeant-at-Arms Clarence Johnson, Service Officer P. E. Henderson, Athletic Officer Ray Myrick, Chaplain Rev. M. L. Aldridge, and Grave Registrar Ole Cleven.

The officers were later formally installed at a Dane County American Legion gathering in Verona.

One surviving article from Drotning's term provides an interesting glimpse into Post 59 in 1934. The Post held a special Past Commanders Night, inviting many of the men who had led Post 59 since its beginning. At that time, the Post had approximately 60 members and was conducting a membership campaign for 1935.

The article listed many of Post 59's earliest Commanders — including Clarence Rowe, Oyvind Noer, George Schultz, Thomas Rippchen, Edwin Olson, Paul Donahue, Percy Norness, Rolfe Hanson, Alvin Loverud, Harry Halverson, Alvin Olson, Oscar Smithback, Obert Klefstad and Ted Rue.

Today, that newspaper clipping provides a remarkable snapshot of the Post's early leadership gathered within only about 15 years of its founding.

Drotning's involvement in Stoughton extended well beyond the American Legion. He was a member of First Lutheran Church, Kegonsa Masonic Lodge No. 73, the Zor Shrine, Knights of Pythias, the Stoughton Conservation Club, and the Stoughton Chamber of Commerce.

He remained a member of the American Legion throughout his life and was remembered in his obituary specifically as a Past Commander.

Charles W. Drotning died unexpectedly from a heart attack at his Stoughton home on July 28, 1961, at age 65.

Following his funeral, he was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Stoughton, where graveside rites were conducted under the auspices of the American Legion.

Charles Drotning's story is another example of the generation that built Post 59 — a World War I veteran who returned home, established a career, raised a family, served his community and remained connected to his fellow veterans for the rest of his life.