Theodore (Ted) H. Vogel

May 21, 1928 – September 20, 2021

Theodore (Ted) H. Vogel passed away September 20 at the age of 93. He was born in St. Louis on May 21, 1928, to Paula (Weinhold) and Ted Vogel. He had two older sisters, Virginia (Visser) and Mildred (Bernthal). They were active members at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Louis and all three attended Bethlehem Lutheran School. While not in the same class, Bethlehem is where he met his future wife, Arlynn Fay Vogel. They began dating after he served in the U.S. Army (1946/47), while attending Valparaiso University (graduated 1952). They were married for 67 years. They had two children together, Laura and Stephen. Ted leaves behind two loving children, Laura Ferree (Jeff Traigle), Steve Vogel (Candee) and 5 loving grandchildren – Jake, Talie, Alex, Tucker, and Holly (Talie’s wife and 5th “grandchild”).

Ted was an accountant, but if he were to describe himself, he’d say he was a musician, first and foremost. Besides his recliner (with a remote in hand, no less), his favorite seat was at his piano. He truly lived to play for others; he loved an audience. That audience would be at church (Bethlehem Lutheran and Chapel of the Cross Lutheran), various nursing homes throughout St. Louis (performing with friend, Jenny Herr or liturgical services with Pastor Orval Mueller), venues with the “You Can’t Beat Experience Band”, entertainment at all his Beaumont High School – Class of 1946 Reunions, improvising with St. Louis Jazz Club musicians, accompanying musicals at Chapel of the Cross and Cardiac Capers at Christian Northeast Hospital – even a rodeo in rural Missouri. But his favorite and most frequent venue was in his living room on his baby grand playing for family and friends.

Music was his life. He was quite popular at parties playing all the latest tunes from his era – Jazz, Big Band, Broadway show tunes, and Dixieland. Besides being trained to read music he had a God given talent to play anything he heard and the ability to transpose it into any key you needed for performing. A singers dream! He performed often with Jenny Herr and had fond memories of playing with Stacey Wines, who he recorded with for their CD, “Side by Side”. He was also proud of playing with his granddaughter, Talie, a professional bassoonist. He wrote a touching song to his wife, Fay and a wedding song for his daughter, Laura. He will always be lovingly remembered for his wonderful rendition of “I Love a Piano”.

He was a major sports enthusiast having watched the St. Louis Browns, the St. Louis Cardinals (both baseball and football), to the St. Louis Rams. He always had a sporting event on his television and even had two televisions at one time watching two different games, to his wife’s dismay.

Ted loved his family immensely. He was a proud husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, in-law, and friend. He was a faithful Christian and a member at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran for over 50 years. Ted had a great sense of humor; he was funny and quick witted. He was a clever lyricist often writing poems or words to popular tunes to celebrate birthdays, retirements, and anniversaries. He was generous, loving, affectionate, creative, wickedly talented, fortunate, blessed, resilient, opinionated, and blunt (sometimes to a fault). He was loved beyond measure and will be missed.

His family is eternally grateful for the many years of loving and exceptional care provided by his caregivers Joy White and Auty Singleton. The BJC Hospice and Care Team at Missouri Baptist Medical Center on 4th Floor West Tower provided dignity, respect, and excellent medical care.

Family only burial will be at New Bethlehem Cemetery on Friday, October 1. His memorial will be at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran on Saturday, October 2 at 1 p.m., with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to Chapel of the Cross Lutheran at https://www.chapelofthecross.org/give-via-paypal