October 22, 1947 — December 13, 2023
Westfield (Lawrence Lake), Wis.
The Chicagoland tradeshow community lost longtime colleague and comrade, Joseph Patrick Hogan, on December 13th, 2023 when he passed away in his home in Lawrence Lake, Wisconsin.
He was born on October 22, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Joseph and Veronica Hogan. Hogan grew up in a family with a dozen siblings. He married Evelyn Pavlik on October 31, 1969.
Hogan was a longtime member of the Carpenter’s Union. The Hogan family itself is a tradeshow and union staple in the Chicago area, with family in the teamsters and decorators unions, amongst others.
Joe was co-owner of the Lakeside Bar & Grill, an industry bar within walking distance of McCormick Place Convention Center. Tradeshow co-workers would gather there for lunch or end-of-day drinks during events at McCormick. People could also be found there looking for the next gig or after an event had closed, sharing, and comparing convention swag. Rob Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Employco, recalled the Lakeside, as well as Joe’s I&D company, Continental Exhibits. “He was our very first client in 1996!”
Hogan’s life wasn’t confined to Chicago. He served as a Navy Seabee in Vietnam and retired to Wisconsin. Hogan spent time as part-owner at Thal Acres Golf Course and Bowling Complex in Westfield. He enjoyed life on the lake and traveling with family and friends.
He is survived by his two children, Joe and Jennifer, five grandchildren, nine of his siblings, and numerous relatives and in-laws.
This story originally appeared in the Q1 2024 issue of Exhibit City News, p. 88. For original layout, visit https://issuu.com/exhibitcitynews/docs/ecn_q1_2024.
