Rodney Bogan

Rodney Bogan, beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend was born on January 7, 1964 to the union of Terry and Esther Randle Bogan in Chicago, IL. He was the youngest of the “Bogan Twins” Stuart and Rodney. They attended Kennedy Upper Grade Center in Kankakee, IL. After graduating from Westview High School in 1982, the “Bogan Twins” attended Millikin University in Decatur, IL together. After college, Rodney followed his brother’s footsteps and entered the armed forces in 1985. During his four year tour in the United States Army, he achieved the rank of SPC and was a finance specialist before being honorably discharged in 1989. After his years of service to his country, Rodney began working at General Foods and the U.S. Post Office as a mail carrier for 15 years. Some of his athletic history and accolades include: ● Little League team coached by the late, great James “Bubba” Cox and Clyde Pankey ● Playing shortstop in middle school and high school ● Class “AA” 1978 Sectional Basketball Champs (Kennedy Upper Grade Center) ● Made the second All City team as a sophomore (Westview High School) ● Made the All City team twice (junior and senior year) and the All-Conference Team (Westview High School) ● A part of the fabulous four “Running Kayhawks” (Eligha Brooks, Donzell Buckhanon, and the “Bogan Twins”) who won the following tournaments: Kankakee Holiday, All City, the Regional Tournament championships, and the SICA South Conference title (they were only the second SICA team to ever make it through a season without a loss) His top tier athleticism established him as one of the greatest athletes to come out of Kankakee. One thing about it: there was nothing that anybody could do with those “Bogan Twins”! The bond between these identical twins has not ended, it’s been transformed from the physical to the spiritual. Rodney had two loves of his life: Kayla Zhan’e Bogan on August 7, 1997 and Makiya Marie Bogan on December 4, 2000. Rodney was blessed to have one grandson, Legend Shakur Brown. His daughters were his entire world and Legend was his number one guy. If you knew him, you knew he talked about Kayla, Makiya, and Legend incessantly, especially Legend, who he nicknamed “21.” He will be remembered most for stepping, especially with his baby girl Makiya, being a “top chef” at the Randle Family gatherings, frying fish, always helping and seeing to the needs of others, especially his family, telling jokes, being a huge Chicago Bears fan, talking and texting with his village of friends every day, hanging out with his grandson Legend, and being a great athlete. In honor of Rodney, Kankakee High School has retired his Westview High School #21 jersey. Rodney leaves to cherish his memory and celebrate his life, his mother, Esther Randle Bogan of Kankakee, IL; two daughters, Kayla and Makiya Bogan of Richton Park, IL; one grandson, Legend Brown; twin brother, Stuart Bogan; one nephew he lovingly helped raise, Julian Bogan both of Kankakee, IL; uncles, Richard (Voneva) Randle of Battle Creek, MI, Kenneth (Michelle) Randle, Pastor Carl A. (Bobbie) Randle, Sr. and Howard (Gail) Stewart all of Kankakee, IL; aunts, Vanessa Morgan of Chicago, IL, Renee Stewart, Rachel Stewart, Polly (Joe) Mendez all of Kankakee, IL and Virginia Robinson of Peoria, IL; godbrothers, Warren Roberts of Chicago, IL and Todd Byrd of Homewood, IL; godsisters, Angie Roberts-Watkins of Chicago, IL and JoAnna Armstrong of Bourbonnais, IL; special friends, Cedric Terrell, Al Dickens, Joe Girot, Bert Dear, Jr., Richard Baker, Steve Wells, Anthony Lawrence, Vincent Martin, Carrie Smith, Shirley Sykes, Shalone Graves, Coretta Jackson Garner, Judy Staples, Arleatha King-Harris, Alisha Tucker, Gail Lawrence, his daughters’ mother Debra Conley, and a host of cousins, friends, and extended family. Rodney traded his earthly vessel for a heavenly body on Thursday, December 26, 2024. Waiting to greet him Home were his father; maternal grandparents, Sallie and Ernest Randle, Sr., paternal grandmother, Coloniase Morgan; Godparents, Roy and Annabelle Roberts; uncles, Ronald, William, Herbert and Jerome Morgan, Ernest Randle, Jr., Arthur Randle and Terry Stewart; aunts, Beatrice Randle-Contrell, Maybell Randle Brown, Josie Marie Randle, Ernestine “Pepper” Randle Key, Julie Stewart and Peggy Williams. “The Fulton 12,” his great uncles, Ezell, Jr., Harris, Robert, Peter, Thomas and Charlie Will Fulton; his great aunts, Lucy Williams, Maerena Fulton, Beulah Griffin, Frances Jackson and Ronnie Williams. Once you become a friend of The Randle Family, you become family.

Tributes

Rodney Bogan

January 7, 1964 - December 26, 2024