Richard J. (Dick) Vogel, age 74, of Churdan, passed away Tuesday, Sept.13, 2022 at Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson following an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated Sept. 19 at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Churdan with Fr. Merlin Schrad as celebrant. Lector for the Mass will be Denise Higgins. Gift bearers will be Richard’s grandchildren. Music will be provided by the St Columbkille choir with Lois Last or organist and Greg Carey as cantor.
Pall bearers and military honors will be given by the Churdan American Legion. A private family burial will be at the low Veteran’s Cemetery in Van Meter.
Richard was the son of Rudolph and Hermine (Riesner) Vogel. He was born at the Greene County Hospital in Jefferson on Nov. 2, 1947. He was the fourth of eight children. Dick graduated from Paton-Churdan High School in 1966. In the summer of 1966 Richard met Mary Kathryn Hood in Lohrville; she was impressed by his driving performance in his 1957 Chevy. Following graduation Dick served two years in the U.S. Army and was first stationed at West Point. Being responsible for the transportation of generals from West Point to the airports in New York City was an exciting experience for a 19-year-old from small town Iowa. The highlight of his assignment in West Point was driving for Senator Tydings in Robert Kennedy’s funeral, taking Tydings to the train station. Dick then served one year in Vietnam before returning home.
Dick and Mary were married on Sept. 25, 1971. Together they had two boys, Joseph and Jacob. Dick worked for Farmers Coop in Churdan and Farnhamville for 43 years before retiring in 2009. Dick took great pride in caring for the Freedom Park in Churdan as well as the American Legion grounds. Every day was a great day to go fishing, and he took every opportunity to be with his family. He loved spending time with his grandkids and never missed a chance to cheer them on in their sports and activities.
Dick and Mary were blessed to celebrate 50 years of marriage on September 25, 2021. After his cancer diagnosis Dick was set on reaching this special milestone.
Dick is survived by his wife, Mary (Hood) Vogel, sons Joseph (Tonya, John and Gavin, Alex and Abby VanDam) of Winterset and Jacob (Michelle, Mia, Maci and Max) of Ames.
Sibling survivors include Carol Friedrichsen of Clive, Tom (Gayle) Vogel of Okoboji, Mary Lou (Don) Evans of Albuquerque, NM, Dianne Trout of Fountain Hills, AZ, Steve (Jeanne) Vogel of Hayden, ID.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents Rudy and Hermine, sister Judy (Verle)
Tiefenthaler, and brother John in infancy.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Churdan American Legion.
The family is assisted by Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home.
