Fred Wayne Bogatay was born March 6, 1950 in Pittsburg, Kansas, the oldest of three sons born to Emil Fred and Helen (Purdy) Bogatay. Fred grew up in Franklin, Kansas attending school in Frontenac, graduating from Frontenac High School with the Class of 1968. He furthered his education at Butler Community College and Wichita State University receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education.

On August 16, 1969, Fred began his Army career in the Army National Guard. For the next 35 ½ years, Fred served honorably in the National Guard and Army Reserves. Throughout his military career he received many recognitions and commendations, earning the rank of Command Sergeant Major. He retired and was Honorably discharged from the Army Reserves in March 2006.

On September 19, 1980, Fred was united in marriage with Deaune Marie Dorsey in Wichita, Kansas. This union was blessed with three children: Kasandra, Jonathan, and Jacob. After moving a few times, the family settled in Harper, Kansas in 1994.

After transferring from the Army Guard to the Reserves, Fred began a career in the aircraft industry at Boeing Aircraft where he worked from 1983 to 2005 and at Spirit Aerosystems from 2005 to 2013, before fully retiring.

Fred stated that the three most important things to him were God, his Country, and his family. His most favorite things were being a husband, dad, and grandpa. He never failed to let his family know how proud he was of them and ended every conversation with an I love you. He loved being outdoors - hunting, fishing, camping, riding motorcycles, or country cruising to spend quality time with the kids or just enjoy the peace and quiet of nature.

Fred was a true mountain man at heart so in 2015, he and Deaune moved to Colorado and in 2016 they settled into their dream home in Lake George that they built together. Moving to Colorado brought many new adventures for Fred and Deaune and when the kids would visit many great memories were made.

On April 19, 2023, Fred passed away peacefully surrounded by love in Kiowa, Kansas at the age of 73. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Mark.

Fred will be deeply missed his wife, Deaune Bogatay of Lake George, CO; his daughter, Kasandra "Kasi" Bolzenius and husband, John, and their children, Benjamin and Anderson, of Marthasville, MO; his son, Jonathan Bogatay and wife, Tamara, and their children, Leo, Luella, Charley, and Sam, of Kiowa, KS; his son, Jacob Bogatay of Colorado Springs, CO; his brother, Steve Bogatay of Wellsville, KS; and a host of other relatives and many friends.

Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the United Methodist Church in Anthony, Kansas with Pastor Luke McKinney officiating. Interment with full Military Honors will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Bluff City, Kansas.

Friends may register from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at Prairie Rose Funeral Home in Anthony. The casket will remain closed to the public.

Memorials in memory of Fred may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or to the Wounded Warriors Project and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.

As dad said, "I always knew this would happen someday."