Cora Vogel

Cora Vogel, age 94, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, May 13, 2018, while residing at Dove Healthcare in Bloomer. Cora was born on July 1, 1924, in a farm house on a 40 acre farm in Newago County near the town of Fremont, MI . She was the 5th of Peter and Geldof (Nellie) Vogel’s 10 children. Growing up, she helped on the farm with animal chores and supporting the threshing work and walked 1.5 miles to Rootstown school, where she was able to attend through 8th grade, but then her parents did not support her going any further. Cora loved school and was an avid reader and born teacher. She was determined to further her education on her own. After 8th grade, she moved to Fremont and worked in a dairy and an egg factory. Around the age of 25 she moved to Grand Rapids and attended Reformed Bible Institute (RBI). In order to obtain her high school diploma, she went back to the Grand Rapids Christian HS as well. She moved to Ship rock, New Mexico to become a missionary to the Navajo Indians. She finished her HS diploma via mail and later went back to Grand Rapids and graduated from Calvin College at the age of 35. She taught at various Christian schools including in Fremont and Hudsonville, MI, Oak Lawn, IL, and in Patterson NJ. She also worked at RBI as both a teacher and Dean of Women there, and at Calvin as a Resident Director of a women’s dorm. Her last paid job was in Jennison, MI, working for 2 counties as the director for adult education working at Community Education. Her volunteer positions after retirement were many, including in Kentucky at a home for unwed mothers and for the Luke Institution in Mississippi teaching adult learners. She was a tutor at the age of 68 for the Mould missionary family in Guinea, West Africa for their children, and from there she went to Chuuk, Micronesia as a volunteer. She never owned her own home and moved many, many times, sometimes living in rooms of her siblings’ homes. She has been to over 60 different countries, both traveling and for her work. Life wasn’t always easy for Cora, but her strong faith in God and a positive attitude carried her through in order to become what she was. She was just an ordinary farm girl that God used to do extra ordinary things. Her favorite Scripture was Psalm 103: Praise the Lord, O’ my soul; all my innermost being, praise his holy name.
She is survived by her sisters: Julia Vogel and Esther Meeuwenberg; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Abraham, Andrew, John, Ernest and Alfred Vogel; sisters: Elaine Bruxvoort and Irene Vanderwal.
As were Cora’s wishes, she will be laid to rest privately at the Rufledt Cemetery. A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 20, 2018 at 9:30AM at the Senior Center on Duncan road during the Christ Lutheran Church Service with a luncheon to follow. There will be a visitation from 8:30-9:15 at the Senior Center before the service. Olson Funeral Home is assisting the family.