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John Fosdal Obituary
John A. Fosdal
June 15, 1935 - January 30, 2025
John A, "Bucky" Fosdal, 89, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2025, at Rainbow Hospice. His daughter Kari was by his side.
John Alan Fosdal was born in Stoughton, Wis., on June 15, 1935. He was the son of Ben and Alice (Nelson) Fosdal. He grew up on a nearby farm and graduated from Stoughton High School in 1952. He graduated early because he skipped the fourth grade.
After graduation, he met his future wife, Roberta Lien, while he was a student at University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. John worked at Rennebohm Drug Store while attending classes. They were married on January 28, 1956, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, Wis.
John graduated from pharmacy school in 1958. He worked for Schweiger Drugs in the Madison and Sun Prairie area from 1960-1973. In 1973, John's career took the family to the La Crosse area. In 1977, they relocated to Jefferson where he started a long tenure working for Shopko. He was the Chief Pharmacist at the Shopko in Watertown for many years. He also worked at the Shopko in Fort Atkinson. Until his full retirement, he worked part-time at the Mueller Drugs/The Drug Store in Jefferson. John worked as a Pharmacist for over 50 years. He enjoyed teaching new pharmacists and especially loved consulting with the customers. John had a gift to immediately connect with anyone he met.
John had a deep interest in genealogy and his Norwegian heritage. Through their genealogy research, John and Roberta were able to make connections with relatives in Norway who they were later able to visit.
John was an early adopter of computer technology. Using an Atari computer, they published a 253 page book on Roberta's family history in 1984. As technology advanced, John spent many nights communicating with family members, friends, and fellow historians through email.
John and Roberta loved to travel. Few states were missed in their travels, including Alaska and Hawaii. Disney World and Disneyland were visited with both kids and grandkids. Internationally, three trips were made to Norway. Other countries visited included Canada, Australia, Denmark and England.
John was a devoted Wisconsin sports fan! Other interests included tractors (especially Farmall), antiques, bluegrass music, politics, and photography. John's children and especially grandchildren were the center of his life. He was a loving and never ending presence in their lives.
Those who knew John are left with a void in their lives. He was an extremely caring and kind-hearted man who went out of his way to connect with others and help in any way he could.
John is survived by: his daughter, Kari Behling of Fort Atkinson; son, Mark (Margaret) of Lansing, Ill.; three grandchildren, Ryan (Ashley) Vogel of Trinity, Fla., Amy (Andy) Strasburg of Marshall, Wis., and Rachel (Sam) Cooper of Champaign, Ill.; three great-grandchildren, Avery and Evelyn Strasburg, and Aiden Vogel; and brother, Stanley (Sandy) Fosdal of Fitchburg, Wis. John is also survived by many cousins, grandnieces and nephews, and friends.
John is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Roberta; and several aunts and uncles.
John's ashes will be interred beside his wife Roberta at the Burke Lutheran Church Cemetery on Portage Road in Madison, Wis., in a private family service. A Celebration of Life will take place on April 12, 2025, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in Marshall, Wis. Please call or text his daughter Kari (920-253-7736) or granddaughter Amy (920-650-1404) to RSVP and get directions.
Memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice Care or the Jefferson County Humane Society.
The Olsen-Gibson Funeral Home is caring for the family. To place an online condolence, please visit www.olsen-gibson.com.
June 15, 1935 - January 30, 2025
John A, "Bucky" Fosdal, 89, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2025, at Rainbow Hospice. His daughter Kari was by his side.
John Alan Fosdal was born in Stoughton, Wis., on June 15, 1935. He was the son of Ben and Alice (Nelson) Fosdal. He grew up on a nearby farm and graduated from Stoughton High School in 1952. He graduated early because he skipped the fourth grade.
After graduation, he met his future wife, Roberta Lien, while he was a student at University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy. John worked at Rennebohm Drug Store while attending classes. They were married on January 28, 1956, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, Wis.
John graduated from pharmacy school in 1958. He worked for Schweiger Drugs in the Madison and Sun Prairie area from 1960-1973. In 1973, John's career took the family to the La Crosse area. In 1977, they relocated to Jefferson where he started a long tenure working for Shopko. He was the Chief Pharmacist at the Shopko in Watertown for many years. He also worked at the Shopko in Fort Atkinson. Until his full retirement, he worked part-time at the Mueller Drugs/The Drug Store in Jefferson. John worked as a Pharmacist for over 50 years. He enjoyed teaching new pharmacists and especially loved consulting with the customers. John had a gift to immediately connect with anyone he met.
John had a deep interest in genealogy and his Norwegian heritage. Through their genealogy research, John and Roberta were able to make connections with relatives in Norway who they were later able to visit.
John was an early adopter of computer technology. Using an Atari computer, they published a 253 page book on Roberta's family history in 1984. As technology advanced, John spent many nights communicating with family members, friends, and fellow historians through email.
John and Roberta loved to travel. Few states were missed in their travels, including Alaska and Hawaii. Disney World and Disneyland were visited with both kids and grandkids. Internationally, three trips were made to Norway. Other countries visited included Canada, Australia, Denmark and England.
John was a devoted Wisconsin sports fan! Other interests included tractors (especially Farmall), antiques, bluegrass music, politics, and photography. John's children and especially grandchildren were the center of his life. He was a loving and never ending presence in their lives.
Those who knew John are left with a void in their lives. He was an extremely caring and kind-hearted man who went out of his way to connect with others and help in any way he could.
John is survived by: his daughter, Kari Behling of Fort Atkinson; son, Mark (Margaret) of Lansing, Ill.; three grandchildren, Ryan (Ashley) Vogel of Trinity, Fla., Amy (Andy) Strasburg of Marshall, Wis., and Rachel (Sam) Cooper of Champaign, Ill.; three great-grandchildren, Avery and Evelyn Strasburg, and Aiden Vogel; and brother, Stanley (Sandy) Fosdal of Fitchburg, Wis. John is also survived by many cousins, grandnieces and nephews, and friends.
John is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Roberta; and several aunts and uncles.
John's ashes will be interred beside his wife Roberta at the Burke Lutheran Church Cemetery on Portage Road in Madison, Wis., in a private family service. A Celebration of Life will take place on April 12, 2025, from 12:30 to 3 p.m. in Marshall, Wis. Please call or text his daughter Kari (920-253-7736) or granddaughter Amy (920-650-1404) to RSVP and get directions.
Memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice Care or the Jefferson County Humane Society.
The Olsen-Gibson Funeral Home is caring for the family. To place an online condolence, please visit www.olsen-gibson.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Madison.com on Mar. 23, 2025.
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