Verna Melva Vogel

Verna Melva Vogel, 95, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri passed away April 29, 2013 at the Lutheran Home. She was born April 21, 1918 at the family farm near Pocahontas, daughter of Joseph C. and Alvina Gerharter Engelhart. She and A. Melvin Vogel were married June 25, 1949 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas. A long time educator, she began teaching in the Poplar Ridge one room school in Cape Girardeau County, then taught in Jackson and Mehlville, Missouri, and then a short time in Peoria, Illinois. Later in life she taught in Oak Ridge, New Hamburg and Delta. She attended classes at Washington University and Harris Teachers College before receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education, and later a Masters of Arts in Education at Southeast Missouri State University. She was a charter member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church where she was active in many areas of church life: Altar Guild, Sunday School Teacher, Kennedy Evangelism Program, and served with her husband as the first trainers in the Stephen Ministry. She was in the first volunteer class of the Southeast Missouri Hospital Hospice and served as a long-time hospice volunteer. She was an active volunteer with the Southeast Hospital Auxiliary as well as the local chapter of the Mended Hearts. She and her husband served as volunteers with the American Red Cross, providing community assistance during natural disasters in Southeast Missouri. She was an active member of Southeast Missouri State University Alumni Association and the University's International Student Program, serving as a host family to a number of international students. She was a 46 year member of the FCE Northernaires and Kage Clubs. Survivors include children, David Vogel of Morrison, Colorado; Mark Vogel (Susan) of Boone, North Carolina; Ann Brizzi (Dennis) of Sanford, Florida; and Robert Vogel (Janice) of Alexandria, Virginia; three grandchildren, Erin Shellenberger (Jeremy) of Jacksonville, Florida; Jack Vogel of Seattle, Washington; and Sara Vogel of Alexandria, Virginia; and two great-grandchildren, Jerin and Corey Shellenberger of Jacksonville, Florida. Also surviving are two sisters-in-law, Joy Engelhart of Pocahontas, and Joann Vogel of Cape Girardeau and a number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and brothers J. Charles Engelhart and Harold Engelhart. Visitation will be Thursday, May 2, 2013 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Funeral Home. Funeral service will be Friday, May 3, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 804 N. Cape Rock Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 with Rev.'s Paul Short and Mark Martin officiating. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Southeast Hospice and the Nature Conservancy.

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Verna Melva Vogel

April 29, 2013