According to the Westminster Catechism, “Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy Him forever.” Don Vogel earnestly lived his life to this end and now continues to enjoy God forever. Born to Jacob & Martha (Fahrenbruch) Vogel on January 10, 1934, Don spent the first part of his life in the rumble seat of his parent’s Chrysler Roadster along with the goat that provided the milk Don needed to sustain his life. The doctor recommended goat’s milk to help Don survive and so his parents took the goat with them whenever they traveled. Is this why Don ended up with such enviable curly hair? Originally settling in Longmont, Colorado where Don was born in a farm house, Jacob and Martha moved to the farm in Prospect Valley in 1939. By this time Don was joined by brothers Jim and Ken. Brother Tim came along later and finally, sister Martha Anne joined the family on the farm in Prospect Valley. After graduating from Prospect Valley High School, Don began his farming career on a 160 acre farm in the Valley. In 1956 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and had to spend two years away from the farm. Upon his return he met Ruby Brinkman while attending church in Denver, Colorado. They were married on December 27, 1959 in Denver. They settled into their home on the farm just east of Prospect Valley and began their family with daughter Jeanette and son, Donny. Don enjoyed working with the youth through the organization Campus Life and spent many hours counseling and witnessing Christ’s love and forgiveness to them. Whether it was at their home on the farm, or on a trip to the mountains, Don delighted in all kinds of activities with the kids. He had a reputation, even as a young boy, for pulling fun-filled pranks on others, especially his brothers, Jim, Ken and Tim who were always on the alert when Don was around. Wonder if God appreciates good natured pranks?! Don loved life, particularly when it involved being with others, and he was a most generous soul, especially when it came to sharing his famous “fire balls.” A gentle giant was Don with a size 16 shoe and the physical strength from hard work on the farm. He met hardship with the same faith he lived and shared with so many. Floods, drought and dust storms only strengthened his faith in the God he glorified. Even losing his farm in 1987 and having to move into town didn’t dampen his faith in his Lord. He served as a jailor at the Weld County jail in Greeley for 11 years and used this opportunity (and his physical size and his “fire balls”) to witness Christ’s love to those incarcerated for various crimes. Gifted with a wonderful tenor singing voice, Don blessed so many with his songs of faith and love, accompanied on the piano by his life’s partner and devoted wife, Ruby. Together they provided music for weddings, funerals and other events and sang in many choirs. Don’s love of a wide variety of music, especially Christian music, is evidenced by his vast collection of LP’s, tapes and CD’s. The Heavenly Choir is now blessed with another beautiful tenor voice. (Hope they like “fire balls” in Heaven because I’m sure Don took a pocketful with him). Sing on, Don Vogel, sing on! Ruby, Jeanette and Dan Sisson, Donny and Christine, Alex and Kori Vogel, your family members who remain here on earth will be listening. Your siblings Annie, Jim, Ken and Tim, all of us will miss you, even your pranks, Don. But because of Christ’s promise, we can look forward to seeing you again in God’s great eternal home.

A funeral service to celebrate Don’s life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, July 26, 2012 at the Greeley Wesleyan Church, 3600 W. 22nd Street in Greeley. Visitation one hour prior to service at the church on Thursday. Interment Linn Grove Cemetery.

Memorial gifts may be made to the charity of your choice in Don’s name. They can be sent in care of Moser Funeral Service, 3501 S. 11th Avenue, Evans, Colorado 80620.