Robert Gerald Fortner, 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 27, 2020.
He was born on October 16, 1924 in Stillwater, Oklahoma to Bill and Blanche Fortner.
At the age of 2, his family moved to Custer, Oklahoma, where he resided until 1986.
Gerald was a graduate of Custer City High School and married his high school sweetheart, Frieda Mae on August 1, 1942. From their union, two daughters were born.
In June of 1943, Gerald was drafted into the army. He checked in to Camp Fannin, Texas for basic training and then reported to the 103 rd Division at Camp Howzie near Gainesville.
He joined the combat effort in July of 1944, reporting to a replacement camp in Italy to join up with “I” company, 141 st Infantry, 36 th Division as a rifleman. “I” company was then deployed to the Rhone Valley along the Napoleon Route, South of France. His unit met with heavy Nazi resistance in the Vosges mountains, where the combat awarded Gerald the Bronze Star that he wore with great pride.
After the war, Gerald came home to his wife and daughter and brought a second daughter into the world.
While tending to his young family, Gerald owned and operated Fortner Chevrolet in partnership with his father in Custer City.
In 1954, he worked for the post office as a rural mail carrier and farmed alongside his father.
Filling out Gerald’s busy schedule, he served 20 years as a volunteer fire fighter for Custer City. He eventually retired from these endeavors focusing on quality time with his wife, Frieda, until her untimely death in 1982.
In 1984, Gerald wed for a second time to Eula Jean Jones. They resided in Clinton, Okla homa where they were happily married for 36 years.
Through this second chapter of Gerald’s life he enjoyed travelling, negotiating land deals, dabbling in classic cars, collecting guns and WW II memorabilia, and most importantly being with his extended family.
Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, his older sisters Mary Alma and Opal and his wife Frieda Mae.
He is survived by his second wife, Eula Jean, Oklahoma City; daughter Pat Fergason, Harrah; daughter Judi Christensen and husband Paul, Custer; Jean’s daughters, Kayla Barker, Virginia, Deanne Pipher and Jeanne Lair, Oklahoma City; grandchildren Robyn Graham and husband Chris, Duncan, Kim Patterson and husband Duane, Harrah, Angela Walters and husband Anthony, Clinton, and Andy Christensen, Custer; as well as eight great-grandchildren.
Graveside services at Custer Masonic Cemetery will be held on Friday, May 1 at 1:00 p.m., under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home and with Doyle Kinney officiating.