William “Bill” George Vogl

William “Bill” George Vogl

Cedar Rapids

William “Bill” George Vogl, 97, of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, May 18, 2023, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, at All Saints Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev.

John R. Flaherty. Burial with military honors will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Bill is survived by his 10 children, Margie (Bob) Pence of Cedar Rapids, Larry (Vicky) Vogl of Cedar Rapids, Kathy Denniston of Springfield, Mo., Susie (Nick) Nicholson of Louisville, Ky., Judy (Gary) Hutchins of Fort Myers, Fla., Mary (Ron) Hanson of Glenwood, Sally (Scott) Johnsen of Bloomingdale, Ill., Jim (Kate) Vogl of Plymouth, Minn., Annie (Joe) Jeffries of Cedar Rapids and Lisa (Griff) Griffin of Cedar Rapids; 26 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Ann (Richard) Steele of Marion; sisters-in-law, Karen Vogl of St. Paul, Minn., and Alice Shea of Cedar Rapids; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Teresa, in 2021; his parents, Fred and Odette Vogl; brothers, Monsignor Robert Vogl, Richard Vogl and Thomas (Patricia) Vogl; father and mother-in-law, Timothy and Catherine Shea; brothers-in-law John, Leonard (Helen), Jerry (Clarice), Timothy and Michael (Marty) Shea; sisters-in-law, Rosemary (Bob) Miller and Sr. Mary Rose Shea BVM; son-in-law, Mick Denniston; and great-granddaughter, Vivianne Beadle.

Bill was the son of Fred and Odette (Schillig) Vogl. He was born in Cedar Rapids on July 27, 1925. He was born in a 1923 Model T Ford enroute to the hospital in Cedar Rapids, and he felt that prompted his lifelong interest in cars and his sense of humor. Bill graduated from Franklin High School in 1943, and the day after high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS Kitkan Bay CVE 71 and was honorably discharged in 1946. After his service in the Navy, Bill attended the University of Iowa, and on Aug. 25, 1951, he married Teresa Ann Shea at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. They enjoyed 70 wonderful years together, and their children are happy to know they are reunited in Heaven.

Bill worked for United Fire & Casualty (now UFG) for over 40 years and never had a sick day. For 25 of those years, he walked an eight-mile round trip to and from work. Bill was a dedicated member of All Saints Catholic Church and found himself on many committees after Monsignor Becker stopped by the hospital to congratulate him on the birth of a child and let him know where “he could use a good man” at the church.

Bill will be remembered for his devout faith, his passion for cars, and an ability to recall and deliver his unending mental log of jokes.

The Vogl family would like to thank Oldorf Hospice House and the 5th floor staff at Mercy Medical Center for their care for Bill in his final days, the crew at Scott’s Restaurant for making him feel welcome every Sunday morning, and Sara Marino from Therapy Services Inc. for her dedicated care and friendship.

Instead of flowers, memorials may be directed to Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy or All Saints Catholic Church.

Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Bill’s Tribute Wall and share your support and memories with his family at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries.