NC/RC/NWA Capt. Michael Leo Fogarty

 

~ IN MEMORY ~

NC/RC/NWA Capt.  Michael Leo Fogarty

April 8, 1940 ~ April 3, 2023

 

Notice of passing…..retired North Central/Republic/Northwest Airlines pilot Captain Michael Leo Fogarty, age 82.  Captain Fogarty is survived by his wife Shirley, and by his children and their families.

Obituary information can be found online at

https://www.koldenfuneralhome.com/obituary/Michael-Fogarty  

 

Michael Leo Fogarty in the care of Kolden Funeral Services, Belle Plaine, MN

Michael Leo Fogarty, age 82 of Belle Plaine passed away on April 3, 2023,

surrounded by family at Mayo Hospital in Mankato.

Mike was the eldest of 8 children, born on April 8, 1940, at St. Mary’s Hospital

in Minneapolis to Michael T. and Edna (Kelly) Fogarty. He grew up on a farm

south of Belle Plaine and attended country school and graduated from Belle

Plaine High School in 1957. He married Shirley Druke on July 21, 1962, at St

Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Belle Plaine and raised 5 children.

Mike was very involved in his community. He was an accomplished flight

instructor and taught many friends and acquaintances to fly. He flew power

line patrol for Nelson Ryan. He was a volunteer fireman, an elected City

Council member and served as Interim Mayor of Belle Plaine. He belonged to

the Knights of Columbus and Ancient Order of Hibernians. Much time spent at

Pioneer Power, showing off his 1940 Farmall “B”. His love for traveling took

them on many 5th wheel adventures throughout the United States. Mike and

Shirley were “Super Fans” of all Grand children’s activities and were frequent

flyers at any and all sporting events.

He started his commercial Airline Pilot career with North Central Airlines in

1967, where he was a pilot for 33 years and through multiple airline mergers

retired with Northwest Airlines (Delta). During his career he started flying the

Convair CV-580 and retired on the Boeing 747 during which he knew how to

fly every plane in between.

He taught us to live life to the fullest. Mike and Shirley took full advantage of

what the Airline Career offered. They had wonderful adventures and lived in

many cities over their 60+ years of marriage.

Mike is survived by his wife, Shirley; children, Michael J. (Karen) Fogarty,

Eden Prairie, Rochelle (Bob) Nielsen, Green Isle, Jeffrey Fogarty (friend, Anita

Ernst), Belle Plaine, Stephanie (Doug), Fogarty-DeBlois, Arlington and Matt

(Melanie) Fogarty, Belle Plaine; 20 grandchildren; Amy (Zac) Giammarrusco,

Caitlin (Dustin) Halbert, Whitney (Jack) Fogarty, Mason Groth, Michael Groth,

Sydney (Steven) Fogarty Busch, Cassie (Nick) Lind, Taylor (Jake) Behnke,

Shayla (Chad) Bohn, Chelsey (Josh) Johnson, Jordan (Cameron) Fogarty,

Faith (JB) Woodman, Alec (Alex) Fogarty Hentges, Chase (Stephanie)

Hentges, Rachael (Benjamin) Hentges, Ryan (Courtney) DeBlois, Tyler

DeBlois, Dominick Fogarty, Zac Fogarty, Jacob Fogarty; and 15.5 Great

Grand Children, Jace Johnson, Sonny Hentges, Cora Johnson, Zoe

Giammarrusco, Ziggy Hentges and baby Halbert, Kenzie Offerdahl, Charlie

Offerdahl, Brodie Bohn, Vivi Lind, Bodie Lind, Evie Lind, Edison Behnke and

Indie Behnke, Laney DeBlois, Rowen DeBlois

Siblings; MaryJo (Ty) Buesgens, Annette (George) Wagener, Julie (Stan)

Brenke, Greg (friend Janet Palmer) Fogarty, Debra Terrio, Dennis (friend Heidi

Nelson) Fogarty and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Christy (Chandra) Uslan.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Kolden Funeral

Home in Belle Plaine MN, and 1 hour prior to mass, Tuesday morning, April,

18, at the church from 9:30 -10:30 a.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 10:30 a.m.

at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church in Belle Plaine, MN. Fr. Michael

Kaluza and Fr. Roger Hessian will officiate. Interment will be at Sacred Heart

Cemetery, Belle Plaine, MN.