Leonard Abraham Hogan, 91, of Niota, Ill., passed away on Sunday, July 20, 2025. He was born on Sept. 15, 1933, the son of Ambrose & Emeline Moore Hogan. He was born and died in the same house on the family farm outside of Niota, Ill.
He is survived by one brother: Patrick “PJ” Hogan of Ft. Madison, two sisters-in-law: Carol Hogan of Eufaula, Ala., Linda (Gene) McEntee of Nauvoo, IL; eleven nieces and nephews that were like children to him: Ron (Amy) Hogan of Ellisville, MO, Don (Jeanne) Hogan of Nauvoo, IL, Judy (Patrick) Hayes of Niota, IL, Tim Hogan of Cape Girardeau, MO, Donna (Kevin) Gross of Jackson, MO, Susan (Tom) Walljasper of Ft. Madison, IA, Debra (Jim) Hurt of Augusta, IL, Brenda (Jeff) Lowman of Nauvoo, IL, Bridgitt (Jerry) Hutson of Niota, IL, Tom (Carla) McEntee of Dallas City, IL, Amy (Matt) Shanks of Ankeny, IA; and numerous cousins and great nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers: Ronald “Doc”, Richard “Rip” and David; three sisters-in-law, Joan, Freda, and Marta; one brother-in-law, Earl Varnadore; one nephew-in-law, Matt Hutson; and one great nephew, Thomas Walljasper.
Leonard attended the Crescent one-room school outside of Niota, then St, Joseph’s Catholic School. He graduated from St. Joseph's High School in Fort Madison in 1951. He then attended Quincy College until he was drafted into the Army in June of 1953. The Korean War ended when he was in basic training, so after basic, he went to map compiling school in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and then on to Germany, where he was assigned to the 332nd engineer topography company. He was discharged in 1955 and went to work for the state of Illinois for about 7 years, giving driver's license tests. Then he went back to Quincy College for a year and a half and was able to get a job at the State Bank of Nauvoo where he worked for nearly 30 years. Except for the few years of college and his time in the army, Leonard lived his life on the family farm.
He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal fan, a lifelong Iowa Hawkeye fan, and an avid supporter of Western Illinois Leathernecks. One of his favorite pastimes was flying. In the early 1980s, he and his brother Richard learned to fly and bought a small airplane. He also enjoyed boating, having taken a small boat to St. Louis and back. But he got the most enjoyment spending time with family and friends.
Visitation will be held from 12 noon to 7 p.m. Friday, July 25, 2025, at Schmitz-Banks & Beals Funeral Home in Nauvoo, where the family receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Nauvoo with Fr. Tony Trosley as Celebrant. Burial with Military Rites conducted by the Hancock County Honor Guard will follow in the Appanoose Cemetery, near Niota.
Schmitz-Banks & Beals Funeral Home of Nauvoo is assisting the family. A memorial fund has been established for Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School.