Barbara "Barb" L. Vogel

Barbara L. Vogel

Mom went home to Jesus on March 25, 2023. She was born in Milwaukee, WI to Rudolph and Alice on December 12, 1946. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for 2 years and worked at the Wisconsin Electric Company prior to marrying the love of her life Karl.

She poured everything into her relationships whether it was to her family as a wonderful wife, mother, grandma, and homemaker, to her wonderful network of friends, or to her church. Many of her friendships date back nearly 50 years and the evidence of their love for one another was expressed in their support throughout her illness and in the 12 years after Karl went home to Jesus. She also, made many new friends as she became more deeply committed in her faith and love for Jesus all of whom exhibited the love of Christ to her in her illness. There are no words that can adequately express how deeply her family was touched, encouraged, and sustained by all of your love! May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!

She was blessed to live within walking distance of her church home of St. Rita’s. Teaching religious education at the elementary level brought her deep satisfaction. She would often speak of past students coming up to her in daily life and sharing a moment of mutual gratitude. She enjoyed gardening, having a drink with friends while sitting on her back porch, shopping (utilizing her Bergner’s discount and spending way more than she ever made working there), and talking on the phone with her girlfriends. She so loved making her granddaughters feel special by preparing gift packages for the holidays and watching as they opened up their gifts. Reading books with her granddaughter Lida over Facetime brought her great joy. A small highlight (more to her son) was a nightly Facetime call talking about life, politics, and religion…it will be so missed!

She is survived by her son, Mark; her daughter, Lynn; son-in-law, Milos; granddaughters, Lida and Karlie; her sister, Suzanne; nephew, Darrell and his wife, Theresa and their family; niece, Deanne and Karl’s family in Germany. She is reunited with the love of her life, Karl.

A visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, prior to a funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Drive Rockford, IL 61109. Burial ceremony at Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please visit the website of one of my mother and father’s favorite local charities, the Rockford Rescue Mission, and make a donation in their memory. Should you wish to mail a donation, the address is provided below.

Rockford Rescue Mission

715 W State Street

Rockford, IL 61102