Verna Vogel

Verna Melva Vogel, 95, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, April 29, 2013, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

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 longtime educator, she began teaching in the Poplar Ridge one-room school in Cape Girardeau County, then taught in Jackson and Mehlville, Mo., and then a short time in Peoria, Ill. Later in life she taught in Oak Ridge, New Hamburg, Mo., and Delta. She attended classes at Washington University and Harris Teachers College before receiving a bachelor of science in education, and later a master 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 including the Altar Guild, as Sunday school teacher, Kennedy evangelism Program. She served with her husband as the first trainers in the Stephen Ministry.

She was in the first volunteer class of Southeast Hospice and served as a longtime hospice volunteer. She was an active volunteer with Southeast Hospital Auxiliary as well as the local chapter of 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 FCE Northernaires and Kage clubs.

Survivors include children, David Vogel of Morrison, Colo., Mark Vogel (Susan) of Boone, N.C., Ann Brizzi (Dennis) of Sanford, Fla., and Robert Vogel (Janice) of Alexandria, Va.; three grandchildren, Erin Shellenberger of Jacksonville, Fla., Jack Vogel of Seattle, and Sara Vogel of Alexandria; two great-grandchildren, Jerin and Corey Shellenberger of Jacksonville; 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 from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, with the Revs. Paul Short and Mark Martin officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Southeast Hospice and the Nature Conservancy.

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