Michael "Mike" James Vogley

Michael (Mike) James Vogley of Columbus, Ohio, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, February 28 th, at 5:01 PM. He was 83 years old.

Mike Vogley was born in Canton, Ohio on June 19, 1941, to Ervin and Bernadette Vogley. He is survived by his beloved spouse of 28 years, Kathy Vogley; daughters Melissa Vogley (Jon Sherman) Stefanie Hauck (Matt Hauck) and son Matthew Vogley. Grandchildren; Camille Vogley-Howes, Polly Woods, Daniel Hauck, and Shannon Hauck. Sister Christina Molder, brother Mark Vogley and sister-in-law Cyndy Vogley as well as many nieces and nephews and his former spouse, Linda Gladwell Vogley. He was preceded in death by his oldest brother and sister-in-law, Joseph Vogley and Joyce Odette Vogley; his parents, Ervin and Bernadette Vogley; and, most recently, his brother-in-law, Rex Molder.

He was well-loved and will be deeply missed.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Mike Vogley honed his electrical engineering skills while serving his country and was, for a time, stationed at the Panama Canal. He often told stories of holding sloths, boa constrictors, and wildlife there. In 1965, at the age of 24, he began working for Columbus and Southern Ohio Electric Company, which was later acquired by American Electric Power. He remained there for 39 years and 3 months, retiring in 2004 after a lifetime of dedicated service. For most of those years, he worked downtown, where he had many happy times — he truly loved working in the city. His favorite place was the Waterworks Bar and Grill, where he always seemed to have the time of his life. He had many friends from work and a group of golf buddies who continued to meet for lunch and rounds of golf well into retirement.

Mike was a lover of nature, road trips, and animals. He often fondly recalled his youth, climbing orchard trees around Meyers Lake, catching turtles and frogs, and bringing home snakes—along with plenty of scrapes and bruises from his many adventures. Nothing could keep him out of the woods in both his youth and his old age. Every weekend, he and Kathy, often with a grandchild in tow, would go for walks in their favorite parks, such as Inniswood or Sharon Woods.

Along with walking in nature, he loved to drive around. He enjoyed afternoon drives in Columbus, visiting different sights, checking out the lights, or simply taking in the countryside. He often just popped over to say hi after a drive around town. For vacations, he always opted to drive, and his favorite destination was the Smoky Mountains—a place he returned to countless times. He especially loved Zoder’s, the hotel where he stayed for decades. Even in old age, his curiosity and adventurous spirit remained strong. He was awed by a trip to the Grand Canyon, a journey that included his first-ever flight on a commercial airline at the age of 80.

Mike believed in service to the community and was a dedicated blood donor. In 1986, he received the multi-gallon donation award, having donated 57 units at that point of his life. He continued donating throughout the rest of his life and the amount he gave over the years is beyond imagination.

Mike was also an admirer of art and craftsmanship. His and Kathy's home was a testament to his appreciation, with walls covered in watercolors, carved wood, basketry, glass, and handmade wind chimes.

He was a pistol—fiery and full of strong opinions. Spirited and sometimes a bit of a rascal, he was well-loved everywhere he went, with a sparkle in his eye and a joke always at the ready. A natural charmer, he could easily strike up conversations with the folks at the breakfast bar, the waitstaff, or the owners of any place he visited. He became a sweet old-timer who enjoyed a cold beer on the patio in the summertime.

May we all live as well as he did.

Rest in peace, Dad, you will be missed.