Richard Cogdal

URBANA - Richard (Dick) Cogdal, a fellow of infinite jest and most excellent fancy … Richard Boyd Cogdal was born on April 4, 1917, in Urbana, and passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Urbana, at the age of 107.

A memorial celebration will be held on June 6.

Dick was born to parents Frank P. Cogdal and Eula Lee Boyd.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ruth Cogdal Gowen; a niece, Julie Gowen; and his wife of 48 years, Shirley (Conner) Cogdal.

Dick and Shirley were proud adoptive parents of Sara (Jim) Elsasser and Ann (Preston) Hoops. He was a proud grandfather to five, Rebecca, Isaac, Owen, Eli and Miles. He will also miss his loving, longtime companion of 22 years, Nancy Jorgesen. Together, they enjoyed many travel adventures, singing and socializing with friends and family.

Dick grew up attending Urbana schools before attending the University of Illinois, where he received his B.S. in accounting and his master's in accounting and finance. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and proudly played the bass drum with the Marching Illini for five years. He spent his college summers as stage manager at the Interlochen School of Music in Michigan. He was an avid piano player and continued playing until he was 106. After college, Dick worked for a small accounting firm, Bauman-Finney, before joining the U.S. Navy and receiving his commission as an ensign in 1942.

Dick was assigned to the Bureau of Ordinance in Washington, D.C. While in Washington, he met and married Shirley Conner on Dec. 10, 1943, she was also an officer in the Navy. Two weeks later, he was reassigned to the USS Makassar Strait CVE 91, where he served as officer of the deck and gunnery officer. During his time on the Makassar Strait, the aircraft carrier was assigned to the Western Pacific, where the ship supported the invasion of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and was awarded two battle stars.

After the war, he began working for Arthur Anderson and Company as an accountant. In 1947, Dick and Shirley returned to Urbana to continue their adventures. Dick joined his father and built a long career working at Cogdal and Hobbs, Real Estate and Insurance, where he worked well into his 90s.

Together, Dick and Shirley worked for the United Nations refugee camp in Leibnitz, Austria, with students from around the world, building houses and apartments for refugees during World Refugee Year in 1959. Dick generously gave back to his community throughout his lifetime by serving on numerous committees and boards. Some of them include: Commercial Savings and Loan, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Urbana Rotary, Urbana Country Club, Wesley Foundation, Urbana Library Board, Urbana Chamber of Commerce, Symphonia Da Camera and the Boys and Girls Club. He was particularly proud of being a member of the Urbana Rotary for over 70 years and supporting the University of Illinois and Krannert Center.

Dick enjoyed his free time playing golf, handball, poker, piano, singing, reciting poetry, traveling all over the world, sharing stories about his experiences in the Navy, eating any and all sweets, watching his beloved Illini football and basketball games, watching the Chicago Cubs, spending time with his family and friends, sitting on his porch watching the leaves blow in the breeze and supporting the arts. He ended each day by graciously thanking everyone who has helped him and saying, "God Bless America (and Tiny Tim)."

Dick's daughters would like to thank all who helped their father reach the incredible age of 107, with a special thanks to Letisha, Lara and Marion. ILL … INI!

A celebration of life service will be at 6 p.m. June 6 at Renner-Wikoff Chapel, 1900 Philo Road, Urbana. Vsitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. Richard McGuire will be officiating. Military rites will be accorded. Private family inurnment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.