Elvin A. (Sonny) Swangstu

Elvin O. “Sonny” Swangstu was born December 18, 1939, and grew up in Stoughton, the son of Edwin and Mrs. Swangstu. He graduated from Stoughton High School in 1958, where he had already made a name for himself as an exceptional athlete. A newspaper account described Sonny as one of the greatest all-around athletes in the history of the local school. He earned major letters in football and basketball for three years and baseball for four years and also played on Stoughton’s city baseball team.

In January 1961, at age 21, Sonny enlisted in the United States Air Force and left for basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He later attended Fuel Specialist School in Amarillo, where he was trained in the refueling and storage of the various types of fuel used by the Air Force. Sonny graduated with the highest score in his class.

As an Airman Third Class, Sonny was assigned to the 7272nd Air Base Wing in Libya, North Africa.

Sonny married Carol Sue Anderson of Edgerton on September 23 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. They made their home in the Stoughton area and raised a family. Sonny is now married to Linda.

A contractor and carpenter by trade, Sonny built a career working with his hands. Those skills would eventually become particularly valuable to American Legion Post 59.

Following Post 59’s move into its new home at 803 N. Page Street in 2008 under Commander William “Bill” Redepenning, Sonny became Commander and would go on to lead the Post for more than a decade. During those years, he became a driving force behind additions and improvements to the new Post home. Sonny also built the bar that remains in the Legion today.

Sonny’s impact on Stoughton’s veterans community reaches well beyond Post 59. He served as a member of the Steering Committee for the Stoughton Area Veterans Memorial Park and was instrumental in acquiring the land on which the Memorial Park stands today. What began as a vision for a permanent place to honor area veterans grew into one of Stoughton’s most meaningful landmarks, and Sonny played an important role in making that vision a reality.

His community involvement extended beyond veterans organizations as well. Sonny was active in community sports and Little League and served the City of Stoughton as an alderman.

After more than a decade of leadership, Sonny officially retired as Commander of American Legion Post 59 in 2021. His years of service did not go unnoticed. On September 10, 2021, Stoughton Mayor Tim Swadley officially proclaimed the day “Sonny Swangstu Day” in recognition of Sonny’s service to American Legion Post 59, Stoughton’s veterans and the community.

It was a fitting recognition for a man whose contributions can still be physically seen throughout Stoughton. The Post 59 home he spent years improving, the bar he built inside it, and the Stoughton Area Veterans Memorial Park he helped bring to life are all part of his legacy.

From the athletic fields of Stoughton High School to Air Force service in North Africa, a career as a contractor and carpenter, community service, the creation of the Veterans Memorial Park and years of leadership at American Legion Post 59, Elvin O. “Sonny” Swangstu has spent much of his life building and serving his hometown.

In Sonny’s case, it can quite literally be said that he helped build Post 59—and helped preserve Stoughton’s veterans legacy—in more ways than one.