Odean A. Teigen

Odean Arlin Teigen was born June 25, 1933, in Stoughton, Wisconsin, the son of Otis and Adeline (Gullickson) Teigen. Few people became as closely associated with Stoughton community life as Odean. Over the course of his 86 years, he served his country, his city, American Legion Post 59, the Stoughton Fire Department and countless community organizations — usually while keeping everyone around him entertained with a story or a joke.

Odean's military career began unusually early. In 1949, at just 16 years old, he enlisted in the Wisconsin Army National Guard. In a 2009 Veterans Corner article written by longtime Post 59 Auxiliary member Evelyn Kahl, Odean recalled that the Guard was paying its young enlistees with $2 bills and silver dollars. That looked pretty attractive to a 16-year-old — as did the opportunity to follow in his older brother's footsteps and avoid two weeks of hoeing tobacco.

Because he had enlisted underage, Odean was required to reenlist when he became eligible. He did so on June 25, 1950, his 17th birthday — coincidentally the same day the Korean War began.

Odean served with Company I, 128th Infantry of Wisconsin's 32nd “Red Arrow” Division. A newspaper photograph from his Guard years identifies him as Sergeant Odean Teigen among members of Stoughton's Company I who received awards for perfect attendance. He eventually attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, E-6.

In 1961, during the Berlin Crisis, the 32nd Division was called to active federal service and Odean reported to Fort Lewis, Washington. He traveled west aboard a troop train and later remembered the communities along the route greeting the soldiers with fruit baskets and other gifts. In typical Odean fashion, one detail apparently remained especially memorable: nobody brought them any beer.

His wife and young daughter, Sherry, later joined him in Washington and lived off post while he was stationed at Fort Lewis. The family used the opportunity to travel throughout the West Coast, including visits to Disneyland and Mexico. Odean was never sent overseas. After completing his National Guard service, he returned home to Stoughton.

His family life included both great happiness and significant loss. Odean married Karen Joan Gunsolus on February 6, 1955, at Central Lutheran Church in Stoughton. Their daughter, Sherry, was born during their marriage. Karen died in 1963 following a brief illness at only 27 years old.

Odean later married Katherine Kraedemann on October 17, 1964, at Central Lutheran Church. Together they raised their family, which eventually included Sherry and sons Arlin and Dale. Katherine died in 2012 after 48 years of marriage.

For much of Odean's adult life, the City of Stoughton was quite literally his workplace. He spent 43 years with the Stoughton Street Department, becoming street superintendent in 1968 and holding the position for approximately 30 years before retiring in 1998. His years with the department occasionally produced stories of their own. One newspaper photograph captured the aftermath of a collision involving a city dump truck Odean was driving on North Page Street. The truck was struck by another vehicle; Odean apparently emerged from the incident without becoming the story himself.

At the same time, Odean devoted another 41 years to the Stoughton Volunteer Fire Department. He eventually became Fire Chief, serving in that position for his final ten years before retiring from the department in 2002. Odean liked to joke that between his 43 years with the Street Department and 41 years with the Fire Department, he had worked for the city for 84 years.

American Legion Post 59 was another major part of his life. Odean served as Post Commander in 1991, later served as Post Historian and was a member of the Post 59 Honor Guard. He regularly participated in military funeral honors and spent countless hours helping with Legion activities and fundraisers.

And Odean cooked.

For years, he and other longtime Post 59 volunteers could be found preparing Legion dinners and community meals. His involvement extended to fish boils, Christmas dinners, bingo events and other fundraisers throughout Stoughton. His history is intertwined with many of the same Post 59 members who appear throughout the story of the Legion.

Odean's sense of humor became nearly as well known as his community service. One surviving novelty business card advertises “Teigen's Escort Service — Male/Female,” identifying Odean “Otis” Teigen as “The Badger Road Flash” and “Supt. of Personnel,” accompanied by the slogan “The Hottest Spots In Town.” It was, of course, a joke — but exactly the sort of joke generations of Stoughton residents came to expect from Odean.

When he retired from the Street Department, a Stoughton Courier Hub story described him as the city's “resident jokester.” Co-workers and city officials remembered a man who could keep everyone laughing while also being counted on whenever somebody needed help. 

More seriously, the retirement story captured a man who genuinely enjoyed people and believed humor belonged in everyday life. That combination of service and personality made Odean one of Stoughton's most recognizable residents.

His community involvement stretched far beyond the Legion and his city employment. He was a longtime member of the Stoughton Conservation Club, Kegonsa Masonic Lodge No. 73, the Scottish Rite and Zor Shrine, including the Zor Shrine Escort Cycle Patrol. He also assisted the VFW with community programs and regularly volunteered at fish boils and other events.

The recognition followed. Odean received a Masonic Community Service Award in 1994, was named Man of All Years by the Stoughton Area Senior Center in 1999, and received a Stoughton Citizen of the Year honor in 2002. In 2007, the Shillelagh Foundation selected him for its Bill Borman Citizen of the Year Award in recognition of his decades of service to the community. His obituary also noted that he had received the Wisconsin American Legion's Outstanding Firefighter of the Year Award.

Odean died September 10, 2019, at the age of 86.

By then, his connection to Stoughton stretched across virtually every corner of the community — soldier, city employee, Street Superintendent, firefighter, Fire Chief, Legion Commander, historian, Honor Guard member, Mason, Shriner, volunteer, cook and storyteller.

Perhaps the best measure of Odean Teigen's legacy is that years after his death, people in Stoughton still tell his stories.

That legacy also continues within American Legion Post 59. His daughter Sherry remains active with Unit 59 Auxiliary, serves as the Legion's hall rental contact and coordinates the monthly breakfasts. His son Arlin, himself a veteran, serves with the Post 59 Honor Guard and volunteers behind the bar and at those same breakfasts.

For someone who spent much of his life helping preserve Stoughton's traditions, it seems especially appropriate that Odean has become part of the history now being preserved himself.