Joe Bogle?  You know someone asked me after Joe had left us, if there was one memory that I would want to share about Joe, then what would that be?  At that time I couldn’t think of what I could say and I felt horrible about it, I felt that there wasn’t one certain thing that I remembered the most about Joe.  Now after three months of that question lingering in my head, my response is this, I don’t think that there is a memory of Joe that I have that I wouldn’t want to share with everyone.  You see, Joe wasn’t only my brother; he was also my teammate and my best friend.  We went through almost twenty years of making memories and there isn’t just one that I want to share because I cherish all of them.  Our whole lives it was always Joe and Jess, tall and short, pitcher and catcher.  It wasn’t only at home or on the field that he and I spent together, since day one he and I did virtually everything together and I will never ever be able to forget those years. 

            The famous saying, “You never realize what you have until it’s gone”, is very true.  I have had to spend the last three months trying to redo all the normal things in my life.  A lot of things that I took for granted are now gone, just like watching television until four in the morning just because we weren’t tired. Things like just playing catch in the evenings. Even the things that I disliked about him I miss now, like when I couldn’t get to sleep because he wouldn’t turn the damn TV in our room off until he was tired.  But it’s alright, I forgive you Joe. 

            If you weren’t one of the lucky people to know Joe in his lifetime, you missed out huge.  Everyone knows he wasn’t much of a talker unless you knew him pretty good, but he was definitely a class act.  I couldn’t think of a single person that even had the slightest bad thought of Joe.  That tall, lanky guy with the goofy smile, that’s how most, will probably remember him, but he was so much more.  A leader, a friend, a brother, everything you would need in someone to guide you, Joe was that person.  I never told him this or anyone else for that matter, but he was the one person in my life that I respected and looked up to the most, next to our Dad.  I admired his honesty, his work ethic, and his leadership by example.  In everything he did you couldn’t find a single person that tried harder or put in more time than he did.  He was the one that would force me to run and play catch even when I didn’t feel like it.  If it wasn’t for Joe, I probably never would have gotten the chance to play baseball in college, he made me a better person just as I hope I made him a better person in some aspects of our life together.

            Never in my life will anyone be able to fill the spot that Joe filled.  Joe will always be with me in everything I do and I can only hope that someday he and I will be reunited again to share our stories of our time apart.  Until then, I will never forget him or what he did for me while he was here.  Hopefully no one else will either.  He was my best friend and I will love him forever. 

 

I love you Joe, God bless you!

 

Love your brother,

            Jess

 

 

 

 

 

Written on July 7, 2005 by his Uncle Clifford Thummel.

As I have spent the last 5 months reading articles, tribute letters, Joe Bogle Day, the Memorial Golf Tournament, I realize how much Joe meant to so many people.   

When I read what Jess wrote about Joe I realized that he was on target more than any other person.  You see Joe was part of a family that is extremely close.  Anytime that Joe and Jess, Megan, or Erica played or did anything you would always see the Dennis’s there or the Hill’s, the Thummel’s or any other family member.  Mark and Marsha did not miss an event.  We were very proud of Joe and the accomplishments he had achieved in such a short lifetime. 

Every time I go to the Bogle’s to visit when I’m home I look around and wait for Joe to come through the door and say “Hey Uncle Ferd”.  Joe and Mark were the only the only people that called me Ferd and I can’t express how much I miss hearing Joe’s voice calling me.  The void left from the accident is unable to be replaced, not a day goes by that I don’t think of Joe.  Many people have tried to tell me that they understand that they have lost people they cared about, but they don’t understand.  As I wrote earlier we were a very close family and we all cared about Joe as if he was our own. 

The most difficult thing about losing Joe is seeing the rest of the family hurt so much.  I have always been a person that has had the ability to fix things, but this is not repairable.  All that can be done is to support the family and listen when they are ready to talk.  For those in Chanute that have been supportive ‘Thank You” and know it is appreciated. 

In closing, Joe I miss you, I love you, and long for the day when we will be reunited forever to walk side by side and just talk, because now there is so much for me to say that was not said while you were here.  Thank you for being an example to Tim he too misses you so much.  I’m so proud of you Joe thank you for being such an example for me to follow.  Until we see each other again bud, I Love You! 

Uncle Ferd

 

Written by Kim Murry on Feb. 12, 2006

Well Joe it has been a year…..Some days it seems like forever ago and other days it seems like yesterday.  I decided to write about the impact of this for my family over the last year.  I don’t think I ever really thanked you for watching over my kids.  You became a big brother to them and you were a great one.  I could not have picked a better person for Zack and Mallori to look up to.  So thanks Joe for showing my kids the right way.

Since I am writing this, obviously you still are a huge impact on my family.  I never was one to believe in fate or angels but I have now changed my mind.  For whatever reason God had on February 19, 2005 to call on you, it has changed our lives forever.  I know he has a reason but I sure would like to know the big picture – maybe it would make it easier for us.  The bracelets that we had made for the team and your close friends I never really could wear mine.  I tried but I could not.  So it hangs in my car on my rearview mirror.  Everyday I look at them and although it use to bring tears to my eyes and I now smile because I was honored with having you in my life.  I can’t take them off now – they belong there.

Number 22 – wow – I never knew it was such a popular number but it shows up everywhere.  Steve and I stayed over night in Kansas City and our room number was 227 (yea that’s right Joe/Zack).  I can tell you this and I know this is not fair to other people but it is really hard for me to see someone wear your number in athletics.  Its like that number is now yours and only yours.

Steve did what Steve does and that was a great job keeping his team together.  He still thinks of you and wishes he could see you one more time.  You had a huge impact on his life and he was proud to be your coach/mentor. 

Zack has had a really tough year and I believe you are watching over him and helping him deal with it.  He misses you terribly but he still holds the dream you both had.  On the day of your funeral he decided he would do it for the both of you and he has been working hard at it ever since.  He misses not being able to talk to you about his problems, but he does ask himself how you would handle a situation and he tries to do it that way.  Sometimes when I look at him and he seems like he is miles away, there is also a calm look in those far away eyes and I know he is thinking about you.  If any of us or Jory go out of town he figures out in his mind what time you should be there.  If you don’t call within minutes of that time he begins pacing and calling to make sure you arrived safely.

Mallori deals as Mallori deals.  She went from being mad at the world (first basketball game after your accident she fouled a girl by pulling her on her back and flipping her over and landing on top of her) to deciding that the next game she would score you got it 22 points for you.  Sometimes I go in her room and look for things and when I open her desk drawers there is a picture of you in every drawer.  She still has hanging up the autograph picture you signed for her at Wal-Mart and the little comet basketball you signed and gave her.  She thinks of you a lot – in her game the other night in the huddle she looked up at Steve and I and mouthed “look at the clock” – there was 22.7 seconds left in the game.  We have been on her about playing more confident and shooting more and dribbling with authority – she said you have joined in because she went to get gas that night and her total was $22.22.  She cannot take her bracelet off yet – she feels empty without it.  She wishes that she had got those basketball lessons from you that you had promised her.  You were going to work with her this last summer.  If you are driving on a highway with her in the front seat of the car you cannot try to pass a car if she sees a hill coming up.  It does not matter how far the hill is away she panics.

I bought a quick pick lottery ticket on Joe Bogle day last year.  I can’t throw the ticket away – it starts with Zack’s number then Jess then Mallori and your number is the powerball.  I called your Mom a couple of months ago on her cell phone and it went to her voice mail.  I was frozen in my tracks when I heard your voice come on and say it was you and something to the affect that leave a message and you would call back soon.  I now feel so lucky that I saw you Friday, February 18^th in your mustang with your NC hat pulled way down on your head going home.  You had that priceless grin on your face as you waved at me and I smiled and waved back at you.  I know we will all be lucky enough to see you again just like your voice mail says, but in the mean time I am not going to lie Joe it is really hard.  We are dealing but know that as far as my family goes you will never be forgotten.  So I guess all I can say now is thanks again Joe for once again watching over and guiding my family now.

 

Written by Jeremy Oehlert on Feb. 12, 2006

 Wow, it's been almost a year since the accident, since that day that left so many tough men crying like babies. But how could you not, if you really knew Joe Bogle. To lose a friend, a teammate, an all around class-act like him is hard to bear for anyone. Though it was hard to figure out how to go on, the best remedy I could think of for myself was to block it out, and actually doing that was even harder. Trying to play baseball on the same field I looked up to him on, hanging out with Jess, who I have so many memories of with the two together, going to the house where I remember hanging out before and after summer games; all of these memories made it hard to push the pain away. But now, almost a year later, I figured it out: DON'T FORGET!  I learned so much from a great person, and I will always remember him and the memories we shared.  I was privileged enough to play baseball and football with Joe throughout the years, and most recently in college, where you feel even closer to your teammates. I felt I had a special bond with the two twins, those who know us know that it is more so with Jess, but nonetheless Joe was one of my really good friends and all-time favorite teammates. The rest of us always complained about running and all the crap we had to do; Joe didn't say a word, just took care of business. Not only did he just do it, he usually won every thing we did. I recall watching him and Heath Kice jogging at a fast pace along the fence, barely winded, and seeing the rest of the pitchers dragging way behind. It was a daily thing. I guess I'm saying that he was an amazing athlete, but more importantly, there was so much more to Joe Bogle than the pitcher with a cannon for an arm, or quarterback you were scared to catch a pass from if you valued the skin on your hands, or the point guard that was better than everyone even knew, but didn't complain about playing time or not enough shots, just went to work every day. He was just an amazing person.
I remember my younger years, Joe's class, the one a year above me, was very popular. Joe was a part of a group of guys that everyone really liked.  I remember how he, even more than my best friend Jess, was never too cool for me. I felt like a kid when I was around him, maybe because of his height, or maybe because my athleticism was child-like compared to his, but that didn't matter to him. He always had time to talk to me, no matter who he was around. It didn't change in college either. I recall being worried that Jess and Joe had new friends after a year of college ball, and that when I joined the team i wouldn't be cool enough for them. It wasn't like that at all, they welcomed me with open arms, and that is just how Joe was.
He was a great guy, and I learned so much from him. The way he treated people and the way he went about business on the field should be written in a book for all to follow. If I can live my life and treat people like he did, and work at my career like he did baseball, I will be very well-liked and amazingly successful. I am a better person for having know him, and I will absolutely never forget Joe Bogle, and everything that was so great about him.

I love you Joe, and look forward to our next meeting,

Jeremy

 

Coach Murry reflects back one year later, published on Feb. 13, 2006

Hey buddy, it has been a year already. I can not believe it. That was the worst day of my life. Selfish on my part I know, because we have been taught since we were very small that it was the best day of your life. The twelve days leading up to your funeral were a nightmare. I tried to keep the pieces together with 35 young men, your family, Mandy and my family. Everyone was a mess. Zack and Mal were crushed as were Kim and I. I did not even try a tough guy act.  It was hard partner, I was hurting very badly for them and myself. I tried to help Jess as best I could, you would have been proud of him. He has become a man now and remembers many of your traits and follows them in your honor. The rosary was next to impossible for me. I had promised your family I would speak. Looking back on it now, I am so glad I did. For me, knowing what to say, that was easy. Saying it in front of a church full of sad people, that is a different story. Ever tried to speak and fight back a waterfall of tears before? Of course you haven’t. You rarely spoke lol.  It was tough. I made it through it; I think it went pretty well. I know that night was harder than the funeral for me and I know it was for a lot of other people too.

The funeral was tough but it did start some closure for some people. For me, it had not even started. I had to stay stronger for other people. My family saw how emotional I was, but in public, I had to fake my way through it so they did not have to. Our team played with heavy hearts and as we all went to Arizona, we got away from reality and played real well in front of your Mom, Dad, Jess and Megan. It did not last, we came home and reality hit us right between the eyes. I preached everyday to be strong but it all went by the wayside. Who was I lying to? Personally, I did not even want to be at the park. I lost a bit of my heart that day. It will grow back with time, we all know that, but in the mean time, it is still a tough pill to swallow. We retired your jersey on April 16 and it was a beautiful day. The ceremony was awesome. Not too bad for a day made up by three coaches. You would have been touched. There was not a dry eye in the place as we honored you. “If Heaven” blaring over the loudspeaker as your family accepted your gifts. I will NEVER forget that day and all of the people that came by to be a part of it. Don’t get me wrong, I never want to do it again, but it will go down as one of my favorite days ever at the ballpark because of its beauty and meaning. Jess and I have become a lot closer also. You’re Mom and I talk often. I like being her sounding board. The number 22 comes about daily in my whole family’s lives. Constant reminders of you everywhere. But…. You deserve to keep on touching people, even a year later. It has been a tough year. I will visit you on the 19^th, just as I have about ten other times this year. No idea why I go there, I think because it makes me know you are doing well and all will be OK.

Kim wrote a letter to you today, it was sad. Jeremy wrote one also. Zack is actually working on one too. Your Mom promised me she was writing one too. Mallori, not a chance, she is too emotional still. However, we all still think of you everyday. All I can hope, when I die, I have the same effect on a couple people as you did on a ton of people. You were not perfect, but guess what, you get more perfect everyday in all of our memories. Take care my friend, and by the way, you still owe me one tarp drill when we meet again.

 

Zack Murry on Feb. 17, 2006

Most boys dream of having a big brother once they realize they don’t have one.  I was lucky enough to have a great little sister.  I still always wanted a big brother and Joe Bogle was as close to one as I could have asked for.  It has almost been a year now since I got the most shocking news of my life.  Coming up Friday the 18^th at around 5 p.m. will mark the one year anniversary of the last time I ever saw Joe.  Joe and I were very close from a very young age and up.  I looked up to Joe from the age of about 8 on.  I wanted to and still try to emulate everything Joe did.  From his work ethic to his attitude, I tried to do exactly what he did.  This could have came from us spending an enormous amount of time together at practices to sitting by each other every legion trip we ever took.  The fact remains, I considered Joe to be my big brother and my role model.

            I thought my freshman year of high school was going to be scary.  I was wrong.  Joe was a senior and treated me like I was an equal.  Joe was a leader which meant that the majority of the others in his class treated me the same way probably because he did it.  No matter how nice he was to me, however, he was always quick to knock me right back to the true freshman that I  was.  For example, I knew I was faster than Joe at that point, and I loved to show him that I was.  As a matter of fact, at football practice I would try to run sprints right next to him just to be able to say I beat him in something.  On one particular sprint I was ahead of him by a few feet and I looked back at him to be a smart ellic.  I guess he did not think it was very funny because the next thing I knew I was doing a summersault as he had tripped me.  He walked over to me and picked me up and said “Don’t ever look back at me like that again.”  

            I worked with Joe for two consecutive summers at my dad’s baseball field which was probably another large piece of us getting to know each other so well.  I looked forward to going to work everyday.  I was excited to talk to Joe even though he made me do all the dirty work,  (and yes he took credit).  Over those two summers, Joe and I talked about everything.  We talked about Mandi, Jory, sports, school, life, etc.  You name it, we talked about it.  I could tell him everything and I believe he told me the same.  That is one of the main things I miss about Joe is that he was the guy  I could talk to about everything because I saw him every single day.

            On February 17^th, 2005, I was driving home  just like every other day.  I was pretty excited about my Dad’s season but at the same time sad because this was the last year I got to spend with Joe.  I still had one more with Jess at that time.  I wasn’t thinking anything about it really and I stopped at the 4-way on Plummer by the hospital.  I looked to my left and saw Joe in his white Mustang.  He drove by and looked at me, smiled, and did the peace sign just as we had done for 2 years to each other.  I kind of laughed and continued on to my house.  I had no idea that that would be the last time I would ever see Joe.  My dad told me that Joe had just pitched the worst outing of his life.  That was another thing I admired about Joe, he was unflappable.  I would have never guessed in a million years that he had just got done throwing terribly in a scrimmage.  He carried on normally no matter how bad things were going for him. 

            That Saturday, my Mother and I went to Wichita.  I was eating at one of Joe and I's favorite restaurants, Red Lobster.  There is not a lot in this world that could ruin a meal of that caliber for me, but the phone call I got about 10 minutes after I sat down at our table did.  My Dad told me what had happened and I went immediately to the bathroom to…well you probably already know.  I wanted to leave right then and there.  We drove home in 100% silence.  I cried, my Mom cried.  I was having a hard time getting a grip on losing one of my favorite people in this entire world.  Needless to say, that was probably the worst week or two of my life.  I could not figure out how to cope with it.  Everything I did for the first time that I may have done with him, I lost it.  I finally figured out that you have to just deal with it.  Don’t think about it so much that it affects your everyday life, but do not EVER forget it.  I could never forget Joe no matter what happened.  I will also never fully get over the loss of one my best friends that took me under his wing when I was little either.  But I think I am doing a pretty good job as of right now of dealing with it because instead of grieving at him not being here, I try to do everything good enough so that he notices me up there. 

            Joe left an impact on my life that is much too great to put in to words.  He helped make so many important decisions in my life such as staying out for basketball my sophomore year when I wanted to quit.  I am very proud of staying out and would not change it for the world.  I got in trouble for talking to Joe during a national anthem when I was 14 in my first year of legion.  Every time I hear a national anthem before I play a game, I talk to Joe (sorry Coach K).  At first I thought I could be talking to air when I talked to him at night, etc.  Then probably the coolest thing ever happened.  In my head I said, “Joe if you can hear me, give me a sign…because you know and I know that this is a waste of time if you can’t because you don’t like to talk anyways..?” Instantly after I said this, my mother dropped a shampoo bottle in the shower and it made a very loud noise.  I will never again question if he is listening or watching because I know that he is and he always will be. 

           

           

 

 

Joe's profile page from 2004-05