Notes:
Data source is Beth Arnold Taylor, E-mail ejat53@charter.net
1930:Chicago, Cook, Illinois, USA
2970 N. Ridgeway Ave
Stanley Bogden, 37Head
Mary Bogden, 39Wife
Albert Bonshock, 3, Adopted Son, b: PA (aunt and uncle)
1940:Chicago, Cook, Illinois
Residence in 1935:Chicago
Stanley Bogdan, 48, Head
Mary Bogdan, 50, Wife
Albert Bogdan, 13, Son
Albert Bogdan, a devoted husband and father, and a veteran of four branches of the United States military and whose life blessed so many, passed away on Friday, July 15, 2011 in San Antonio, Texas. Albert was born on October 23, 1926 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, a coal mining town in Central Pennsylvania. Albert's mother died before his second birthday. His aunt and uncle, Mary and Stanley Bogdan adopted and raised Albert in Chicago, Illinois. Growing up in Chicago, Albert became an avid lifelong fan of the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Bears. As a youngster Albert worked at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs baseball team, earning tickets to the next day's game as his pay. Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, at the age of 15, Albert enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. After completing boot camp, the Marines released Albert due to discovering his young age. When Albert was 16 years old he enlisted in the United States Navy and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was involved with landing craft infantry vessels (LCIs), which was one of the smallest ships in the Navy at that time and was used for land invasions. Recently, Albert recalled a night near Okinawa, in mine-filled waters he witnessed American servicemen jump into the water to get between the mines and the ship, pushing the mines away with their bodies. To Albert they were heroes. 'You don't find better people than that," he said. Albert's 29 year military career was unique in that he served in four branches of the military during which time he met General Douglas MacArthur and President Harry Truman. After his service in the Navy, Albert joined the Army Air Corps which later became the United States Air Force, working in cryptography, coding and decoding messages, working under four-star generals. After a transfer to San Antonio in 1965, Albert was a recruiter during his last four years of active duty. Albert retired from the Air Force in 1971 at the age of 44 and afterwards helped teach flying at Westside Airport in San Antonio for a period of time. During the 1970s and 1980s Albert was an administrator for business, technical and vocational schools in San Antonio and Dallas Texas. Albert Bogdan understood the value of an education and that it is never too late to learn. In his seventies Albert received an associate degree in real estate from San Antonio College and in his eighties Albert was the oldest criminal justice major to receive a certificate, also from San Antonio College. While earning his Criminal Justice Certificate, Albert worked for a few months in an evidence room for the San Antonio Police Department. Albert is survived by his wife of 35 years, Karma Ezell Bogdan, his daughter, Barbara Marshall, his son, Eric Bogdan and wife, Christine, his daughter, Theresa Pennell and husband Neil Pennell, his step sons, Todd Corbitt and Ronald Corbitt, his grandchildren, Jacqueline Marshall, Michael Marshall, Erica Bogdan, Emma Pennell and Paige Pennell and great grandchild, Lilith Muller Marshall. Albert is preceded in death by his parents Stanley and Mary Bogdan and his natural parents Adam and Agnes Bonczkowski, his first wife, Lois Bogdan and his son, Lawrence Bogdan. The family is greatly appreciative of the healthcare Albert received over the years from doctors, nurses, and staff at area hospitals, most notably Dr. Brian Neubauer and the Wilford Hall Medical Center. Visitation is from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, July 20 at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home Chapel with a Rosary at 7:00 PM. The funeral mass is at 10:00 AM, Thursday, July 21 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 4603 Manitou, in San Antonio. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made to the Albert Bogdan Scholarship at Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, Texas.