St. Clair County Obits

GEORGE A. VOGEL

Clinton Daily Democrat
15 September 2003
George A. Vogel was born to George F. and Eleatha L. Vogel in White Oak, Oklahoma, January 16, 1928. He was the only son. He had two sisters, Tessie Ilene and Treva Jean. The family moved to Appleton City in 1939 where he was raised. George joined the United States Army where he was trained as a small arms weapons mechanic. He served his country in World War II as a Private First Class. He also enjoyed boxing while in the Army. After being honorably discharged from the Army, he worked at Crouch's Studebaker dealership in Clinton as a mechanic. In November 1965, he graduated in the top of his class from the Department of Commerce Civil Aeronautics Administration in Kansas City through the Aero Mechanics School as an airframe mechanic. On September 6, 1963, George married Rosa Lee Stowell of Independence. At that time George and Rosa Lee both worked for Benson Manufacturing Company in Kansas City. The couple made their home in Raytown before moving to rural Deepwater in 1969. George and Rosa Lee owned and operated the Coast to Coast store in Clinton for many years and later managed the Kerr-McGee Service Station, also in Clinton. George owned and operated Vogel's Garage in Clinton and then worked at United Wood Enterprise, Inc. before retiring. George and Rosa Lee had six children, Terry, Sherry, Kelly, Steve, Robert and Jennifer. Tragically Robert and Jennifer died April 22, 1974. George, being "the rock" of the family, alongside his wife, Rosa Lee, managed to raise not only their remaining four children, but the many others who looked to him as a father figure. During his lifetime, George was an active member of the Masonic Lodge and the Shrine Temple. He had compassion for others and was known as someone who would be the first to help those less fortunate, never wanting any recognition. He enjoyed hunting, but his real love was fishing. When not working, one could find George with his fishing pole in hand and his son or one of his friends along with him. George died Monday, September 1, 2003, at the home of his son with his family present. He was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Rosa Lee Vogel in August 2002. Also preceding him in death were his children, Robert and Jennifer; his parents and a sister, Treva Vogel. He is survived by two sons and their wives, Steve and Melanie Vogel of Deepwater and Terry and Hye Okoff, Cole Camp; two daughters, Kelly Anderson and her husband Leonard, Deepwater, and Sherry Vogel of Lake Oswego, Oregon; a sister, Tessie Vogel, Appleton City; seven grandchildren, Lauren Vogel, Debbie Williams, Jodie Vogel, Ryan Houk, Tim Vogel, Jamie Meyer and Brian Vogel; two great-grandchildren, Hunter and Dominic Meyer. George supported the Republican Party and the NRA. He had a great sense of humor that everyone will miss greatly. Funeral services were held 1 p.m. Friday, September 5, at the Consalus-Bradley Funeral Home, Clinton. Dr. David Maggi officiated. Burial was in Appleton City Cemetery. Pallbearers were J. D. Anspaugh, Ryan