Hans L. Tronnes

Hans Lee Tronnes was born December 20, 1896, in Stoughton, Wisconsin, the son of Christian and Martine Tronnes. A lifelong connection to Stoughton would eventually include service to his country during World War I and leadership of Stoughton’s American Legion post.

During World War I, Tronnes served in the United States Army with Company G, 127th Infantry Regiment. His military records show that he enlisted on July 2, 1916, and was discharged on April 26, 1918. He held the rank of corporal.

His military service also played an important role in his personal life. While stationed at Camp Pike, Arkansas, Tronnes met Jessie Lijon of Paragould, Arkansas. The two later married, with a newspaper announcement describing their wedding as the culmination of a romance that had begun while Hans was stationed at Camp Pike.

Following his military service, Tronnes returned to Wisconsin and worked as a machinist. By the late 1930s he had become active in the American Legion's Otis Sampson Post in Stoughton, now American Legion Post 59.

In June 1939, Tronnes was elected commander of the Stoughton American Legion, succeeding Ole Kleven. He and the other newly elected officers were formally installed that September, with Past Commander Rolfe Hanson serving as installing officer. Tronnes served as Post Commander during the 1940 term.

His time as commander is also documented through an unusual newspaper story from August 1940. While Hans and his wife Jessie were traveling through Illinois on their way to Arkansas for a vacation, their automobile overturned near La Salle after Hans lost control of the vehicle. Hans escaped injury, but Jessie, then 44, suffered a severe scalp laceration.

Newspaper records provide other small glimpses into Tronnes' life in Stoughton. In 1953, while living at 113 S. Forrest Street, he was photographed after being selected as the winner of a local "Lucky Sport" contest.

Hans and Jessie eventually returned to Arkansas, settling in her hometown of Paragould in 1956. Hans continued working as a machinist until his retirement.

Hans Lee Tronnes died October 29, 1969, at a hospital in Paragould. He was 72 years old. He was survived by his wife Jessie and four sisters: Emma Everson of Edgerton, Karen Strandlie and Anna Johnson of Stoughton, and Olga Funderson of Madison. He was buried at Linwood Cemetery in Paragould, Arkansas.

Hans Tronnes' story represents a generation of World War I veterans who returned home and continued serving their communities through the American Legion. His leadership as Commander of Post 59 in 1940 remains part of the long history of veterans who helped build and sustain the organization in Stoughton.