Leonard Vogel

Leonard H. Vogel, a lifelong resident of Cape Girardeau County, passed away Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 12, 1921, in Pocahontas, to Alfred Martin and Ida Marie Steiner Vogel, and was baptized Oct. 2, 1921, at Zion Lutheran Church. He and Inell Mason were married May 24, 1946, at the First Methodist Church in Rule, Texas. She preceded him in death March 31, 2010.

In 1923, Vogel moved to Cape Girardeau where he graduated from Trinity Lutheran School and Central High School. While with Trinity's Troop 8, he obtained the Eagle Scout award.

In October 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, was called to active duty in February 1943 and in July 1944 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and awarded his wings. He was assigned to Concho Field in San Angelo, Texas, where he met his future wife. He was discharged from service in October 1945, and in 1946 he completed his received a B.S. in education from Southeast Missouri State University.

Following his graduation, Leonard worked for J.C. Penny in Cape Girardeau. Two years later, he began his longtime association with Moore Business Forms Inc., where he was a sales representative until 1970. He was promoted to area district manager and created and supervised offices in Paducah, Ky., Union City, Tenn., Jonesboro, Ark., and Cape Girardeau. He retired from the company in October 1986.

Vogel was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and numerous committees. In 1978 they transferred their membership to St. Andrew Lutheran Church, where Leonard served on various committees and was on the board of directors. He was active in the development of the Lutheran Home and Saxony Village. In 1970, two years before the Lutheran Home opened, he was chairman of the Cape Girardeau County Bond Committee that, together with the Perry County committee, sold more than $425,000 of bonds. That money and donations were used to build and equip the first 60-bed wing of the Lutheran Home. From 1987 to 1999, he was a member of the board of directors of the Lutheran Home and was deeply involved in the planning and creation of Saxony Village, which opened in 1994. In September 1996, he and his wife moved to a duplex at Saxony.

Leonard was a member of the Cape Girardeau Jaycees when the Jaycee Golf Course was built. He also was a member of the Lions Club, Chamber of Commerce, Southeast Missouri Seniors Golf Association and Eagle Scout Association. He was an avid golfer, especially in retirement, and until the last few years, played golf most days when the weather was good.

He is survived by eight nephews, Jon Sander of Cape Girardeau, Don Sander of Mission Hills, Kan., David Vogel of Morrison, Colo., Mark Vogel of Boone, N.C., Robert Vogel of Washington, D.C., Rick Vogel of Oceanside, Calif., Steve Vogel of Melbourne Beach, Fla., Barry Vogel of Carlsbad, Calif.; one niece, Ann Brizi of Sanford, Fla.; two sisters-in-law, Verna Vogel and Jo Ann Vogel, both of Cape Girardeau.

He was preceded in death by his wife; sister, Norma Sander; and two brothers, Melvin and Richard Vogel.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Paul Short officiating. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to Saxony Lutheran High School, 2004 Saxony Drive, Jackson, MO 63755 and the United Way, 430 Broadway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.