Harold Zane Hogan passed away on March 8th, 2022, surrounded by loved ones. He was 89. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, March 26th, 2022, at Oak Ridge Cemetery, 10225 County Rd 234, Micanopy, FL, 32667.
Zane was born on July 31st, 1932, in Chiefland, FL to Hugh Jasper Hogan and Claudie Tillman Hogan. Raised on a farm in Rochelle, FL, he voluntarily joined the United States Army in 1949 and entered into active service 2 days after his 17th birthday. Zane earned the rank of Sergeant along with the Korean Service Medal with 5 Bronze Stars as a member of the 76th Engineer Construction Battalion. Honorably discharged after 3 years of service, he returned to Rochelle and soon began working for Southern Bell until his retirement 35 years later. It was at work he met the love of his life Ruth Bielmann. The two were married August 7th, 1962 and remained smitten with each other for the next 59 years.
Always a country boy, Zane was a hobby farmer who enjoyed raising cows and, occasionally, crops, as well as driving his tractor. He told wonderful stories about helping his grandfather round up cattle on horseback in the long leaf pine woods around Rochelle, Micanopy, and Cross Creek. Proud of his Florida heritage, Zane was asked in the early 1970’s if he would donate the old family cabin that stood on his property near Micanopy, constructed by his great, great grandfather Michael McCarroll, to Morningside Park in Gainesville, FL. He did, so it would be preserved for future generations, and it is now known as Hogan’s Cabin in The Living History Farm at Morningside Nature Center.
Zane loved bluegrass music and old hymns as well as ABBA. He was a self-taught harmonica player, and if you were lucky, he would play a tune for you.
The love and devotion Zane had for his family is immeasurable. He was exceptionally kind, generous, creative, smart, friendly, and fun. Greatly loved, he will always be missed.
Left to honor Zane’s memory is his wife Mary Ruth Bielmann Hogan, daughter April Marie Hogan, stepdaughter Karen Stack Van Lare (Wendell d.), grandson Andrew Giles (Carey), granddaughter Lacey Taplin (Kevin), great grandchildren Aiden and Aubrey Giles, and Malcolm Zane Taplin. Siblings include Rollin Hogan (Joan), Margie Bowers (Herman d.), Dale Hogan (Tommye Lee), and many extended family members.
Zane was a long-time member of the McIntosh United Methodist Church, and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, FL
Arrangements are in care of MILAM FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICES, 311 S. Main Street, Gainesville, FL, 32601, (352) 376-5361.
