Michael J. BOGNAR

20 APR 1943 - 17 JUL 2006

• BIRTH: 20 APR 1943, South Bend, IN
• DEATH: 17 JUL 2006, White Pigeon, St Joseph, MI

• MARRIAGE: 1 MAR 1997, St Joseph County, IN

• MARRIAGE: 9 OCT 1971, St Joseph County, IN
• DIVORCE: 8 FEB 1984, St Joseph County, IN

1.  James Thomas BOGNAR

INDEX

[N20413] Michael J. Bognar
April 20, 1943 - July 17, 2006
July 19, 2006

Michael J. Bognar, 63, of White Pigeon, Mich., formerly of South Bend, died on Monday, July 17, 2006, following a three-year battle with cancer. Mike was born in South Bend, Ind., on April 20, 1943. He attended St. Patrick's Grade School in South Bend and was a 1961 graduate of St. Joseph High School. He served in the United States Navy from 1961 to 1965, and graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's of science degree in business administration in 1976. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Michael A. Bognar; his mother, Betty Bognar; and by a son, James Thomas Bognar. He is survived by his wife of nine years, Betty A. Bognar; and his brother, Richard Bognar of White Pigeon. He is also survived by three children, Kimberly (Timothy) Conley of Granger, Ind., Michael A. (Andrea) Bognar of Westfield, Ind., and Robert J. (Kimberly) Bognar of Lake in the Hills, Ill. Mike is also survived by five grandchildren, Sean Conley, Peter Conley, Abigail Bognar, Xander Bognar and Corrine Bognar. Mike's sixth grandchild is expected this fall. Mike said it is a girl for sure. Mike worked at Associate/City Bank in South Bend for 31 years. In 1997 Mike and Betty relocated to their new home on the St. Joe River in White Pigeon, Michigan. After retirement in 2001, Mike and Betty enjoyed the quiet life in the country and loved to watch the boats float by. But their favorite thing to do was have their grandchildren come and try to catch the big fish that always seemed to get off grandpa's hook. Mike was a fun-loving and boisterous man who always looked out for others, despite his own physical challenges which were the result of a serious accident in 1966. That car accident made Mike the man he was. He overcame many challenges including being told he would never walk again. Mike not only walked again but was active in his three children's lives, including never missing a single sporting event or activity they participated in, and everybody at one of these events always knew he was there, including the opposing teams. And if it was baseball season, you were always watching for the "DARK BALL!" He was very active in his church, Corpus Christi, and was a 3rd degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. Mike will be greatly missed by all who knew him, especially those who loved him the most. Visitation will be from 3:00 to 4:00 and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday in the Farrand Funeral Home, 300 N. Kalamazoo Street, White Pigeon, MI 49099. A Rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday in St. Joseph Catholic Church in White Pigeon, with Rev. Camillo Tirabassi officiating. If desired, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Envelopes are available in the funeral home.