Frederick "Bogie" Bogaert

Frederick Arthur “Bogie” Bogaert, age 93, passed peacefully at Cascade Trails Retirement Community on June 23, 2023 in Grand Rapids, MI. Born November 22, 1929, in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Opal “Dottie” and Frederick Albert Bogaert, young Fred, by the age of 13, had moved with his parents nine times, the result of his father’s employment transfers. Because of these frequent moves, Fred (an only child) had to develop an outgoing personality and make friends quickly — a skill that served him well throughout his lifetime. His longest childhood residence was in Marshalltown, Iowa, starting as a 7th grader and continuing through his graduation from Marshalltown High School in 1948. He then attended Denison University, Granville, Ohio, majoring in theater and forging close friendships with several Denisonians who developed lifelong theater careers. Fred worked briefly in professional theater following his 1952 Denison graduation; but the Korean War was in progress, and the U.S. Army claimed his talents for their Special Services division. He was assigned the job of entertaining troops at a large military hospital in Stuttgart, Germany. Following his service, Fred returned home to marry his college sweetheart, Julie Cartland of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and worked initially for Shell Oil. He and Julie lived in St. Paul, Minnesota, until he decided to join his father’s business in Marshalltown, Iowa. The senior Bogaert was a petroleum wholesaler, supplying fuel for gas stations as well as heating oil for residential customers. In 1962 Fred was hired by 3M in Chicago, and the young couple moved to Mt. Prospect, Illinois. Over the next 26 years, his career was in sales and management for 3M’s commercial and industrial printing and graphics products. His work took them to Peoria and Western Springs, Illinois, to Cincinnati, Ohio, and eventually to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he and Julie lived before and after his retirement in 1988. Bogie has said that the two things he most valued were his relationships with family and friends and his work in the theater. His next 22 years were spent doing what he loved — performing on stage, frequently playing a variety of roles at Grand Rapids Civic Theater where he also served on the board for a number of years. He also performed at the Circle Theatre in Grand Rapids and at the Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee. During this time, he acted in more than 25 plays, including one of his favorite roles as Matthew Harrison Brady in Inherit the Wind and twice as the grandfather in You Can’t Take It with You. He was recognized and celebrated for his professional talents in the Grand Rapids community. His primary joy in theater was, as he put it, “to make people laugh” — comedy being his specialty. Bogie knew how to live a full and meaningful life. He and Julie spent many happy summers at the beloved Cartland cottage on Portage Lake (Onekama, Michigan). This became their second home after the senior Cartlands passed, and they continued to care for the property and to host family and friends in that location. Bogie is remembered as a loving and generous husband, brother-in-law, and uncle who participated enthusiastically in his extended family’s achievements and celebrations. He had many friends whom he also regarded as family and managed to remember and honor their highlights until the day he passed. (When swimming was his chief means of exercise, each lap would be done in honor of the family member or friend whose birth date matched the lap number.) He was a man notable for his open heart, his fun-loving outlook, and his ability to nurture and sustain relationships. Loved ones who will miss Bogie until they meet again are “honorary daughter” Sue (Hoffman) Troke, her husband Jerry, and their family of 15; sister-in-law Dorothy Cartland Lutz; nieces and nephew Diana Lutz Pinkham (Doug), Kathryn Lutz Bosket (Curt), and Daniel Lutz (Theresa); one grandniece and four grandnephews; and many treasured friends. Loved ones who have passed on before are Fred’s mother and father; his loving wife of 47 years, Julie Ann Bogaert; her parents, George and Bernice Cartland; cherished companion of 16 years, Jean Boyden; and many dear friends. Memorial services will be held ­­­­­­­­­­­­1:30 July 30th, at East Congregational Church 1005 Giddings Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506. At Bogie’s request, memorial gifts may be sent to: Grand Rapids Civic Theater, The Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, Grand Rapids Symphony.

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