John A. Vogel

John A. Vogel, 94, of Punta Gorda passed to his eternal reward Monday, June 26, 2006. He was born March 10, 1912 to John W. and Rose Vogel of Homestead, PA. Before retiring to Stuart and eventually Punta Gorda, John had a distinguished career in the Pittsburgh area. He worked for Westinghouse Electric in East Pittsburgh for 49 years a s a tool and die maker and quality control inspector. He was part of the top-secret crew assigned to work on one of the original atomic bombs used to end World War II which resulted in the Navy Department granting him deferment on a commission. John was also elected to a full term as Justice of the Peace for North Versailles in Allegheny County in the 1950's after being appointed to a first term by the Pennsylvania governor. John was a founding member of St. Robert Bellermine in East McKeesport, PA where he served as an usher . The was an original member and organizer of the Park Terrace Fire Department and was active in the Lion’s Club, serving as its president, also the US Power Squadron, and the Moose and Elk associations. He and his family spent summers at Geneva-On-The-Lake in Ohio. In his retirement, John and Margaret traveled the United States extensively. During his travels in the Southwest, he panned for gold, mined diamonds, and won several chess and archery tournaments. John and Margaret received an award for outstanding service as mentors in the Martin County Schools for their volunteer work with “At Risk” high school students. John was an avid motorcyclist well into his eighties before turning to computers when he had to choose between a new motorcycle and a new desktop on his 85th birthday. He was also a staunch fan of the Atlanta Braves. John will be greatly missed by his wife of 69 years, Margaret Anderson Vogel; children, Patricia Ellwood of Niles, OH, Georgia Heigelmann of Punta Gorda, John W. Vogel of Mineral Ridge, OH, and Brian Vogel of Cape Coral; sister, Bernadette Yermack of Falls Church, VA; grandchildren, Jamie Ellwood, Jonna D’Amicone, Ron Ellwood, Melissa Jones, John A. Vogel II, Amanda Vogel, Dylan Vogel and Jennifer Heigelmann; great-grandchildren, Bruce Dewey, Teresa, Jonathan and Joshua D’Amicone, Aiden Heigelmann, and Caroline and Hannah Ellwood; and a great-great-grandchild due in October, 2006. The service celebrating John’s life will be 11:30 am Saturday, July 1 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda. The family requests memorial donations be made to the Sacred Heart Building Fund, 211 W. Charlotte Ave, Punta Gorda, FL 33950. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda.