Louis Vogt Obituary - Lewistown, Pennsylvania | King-Barr Funeral Home LLC

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Obituary for Louis O. Vogt

Louis O.  Vogt
Louis O. Vogt, 90, formerly of Ferguson Valley, Lewistown, Pa., passed away at Valley View Haven at 3:25 p.m. Saturday, July 4, 2015. Born November 1, 1924 in Millerstown, Pa., he was the son of the late Louis G. and Beatrice (Owen) Vogt. In addition to his parents, Louis was preceded in death by his brothers, Carl D. Vogt in 1996, and Dale E. Vogt on February 26, 2015; and a sister, Emily (Vogt) Fisher on March 31, 2015. Louis is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Joyce M. (Markley) Vogt.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by twin sister Lois (Vogt) Ziegler, of Lewistown; son, Louis Owen Vogt, Jr., and wife, Ethel, of Vinton, Va.; daughter, Jane (Vogt) Vere-Bennett and husband, Rick, of Las Vegas, Nv.; grandsons, Col. Dr. Tobias O. Vogt, and wife, Dr. Annelie, stationed in Fort Washington, Md.; Maj. Zachary R. Vogt, and wife, Dr. Kimberly stationed in Colorado Springs, Co., Lance M. Lobingier and Kyle T. Kratzer, of Lewistown; granddaughters, Kirsten E. (Kratzer) Vogt and husband, Michael Vogt, of Monte Rio, Ca., and Kalah V. Kratzer, of Yeagertown, Pa.; and two great-grandchildren, George Ryan and Caroline Elizabeth Vogt.

Mr. Vogt’s family, Edelherren Vögte von Heselholt, originated in the border region of Westphalia and Hesse Germany. He was the grandson of Anton Josef Vogt who emigrated from Westphalia Province of the Kingdom of Prussia (Germany) to Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in the late 19th century. He’s the son of Louis Gottlieb Vogt, founder of Vogt’s Rendering Works in Lewistown, Pa., the family-owned business passed to him and his brother Carl who also jointly owned the Vogt Farm and gas wells. Louis moved with his family to Ferguson Valley, Pa. when he was five. He was very active with the other Ferguson Valley children. He loved sports, playing softball and football, hunted or fished nearly every day, and worked on his parent’s farms and rendering works.

Louis met his wife Joyce through the Bell Telephone switchboard where she worked as an operator. He would call repeatedly and talk to her as much as possible until she finally agreed to go out with him. He initially tried to impress her by picking her up in the family car, but by the end of the courtship there were times where he arrived in a deadstock truck from the rendering works, not the type of transportation a young lady appreciated. On other days he’d ride his 1941 Indian motorcycle to the Bell Telephone office, but since Joyce refused to ride on the motorcycle, a young Louis would walk his girlfriend home and then walk back to pick up his bike. Nonetheless, the romance blossomed and Louis and Joyce were married July 8, 1944.

World War II interrupted the newlyweds’ bliss when Louis was drafted into the U.S. Army a month after the wedding. While Joyce stayed in Pennsylvania and prepared a comfortable home, Louis went to abbreviated basic training in Camp Blanding, Fl. Instead of receiving advanced individual training, Louis and his fellow infantrymen were shipped directly to combat in Germany where he served in G Company, 378th Infantry Regiment, 95th Infantry Division. His distinguished wartime service was the basis for the book, “The Iron Men of Metz: Reflections of Combat with the 95th Infantry Division.” He earned among other awards, the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart for wounds he received on April 7, 1945. Louis proudly displayed his 95th Infantry Division hat and purple heart license plate, and in later years attended several division reunions with his family. He loved to tell people that he and his grandsons, Tobias and Zach, were all combat veterans with bronze stars and combat infantry badges.

Louis returned from the war and picked up where he left off. Over the next few years Louis and his brother Carl built a strong business, and Louis and his wife Joyce built a loving family that included a son Owen and daughter Jane. He was very active, riding motorcycles, bowling in several leagues, playing pinochle, building swimming holes and softball fields for the kids, boating and water skiing in the summer, and snowmobiling in the winter. Louis loved to play practical jokes and enjoy life, but he stressed hard work, education, and always doing your best.

Louis sold his half of Vogt's Rendering Works and retired March 17, 1981. In his free time the “General,” an honorific title from his fellow hunters, was an avid hunter, fisherman, and Good Samaritan. He hunted small game and deer in Pennsylvania, spent a month hunting elk and antelope in Wyoming for several years, and traveled to locations such as Argentina and Mexico to hunt doves with friends. He liked to tell people that he shot 1,157 rabbits off his favorite dog Sam over a twelve-year period. His skill with a rod and reel were also legendary among local trout fishermen. Even after Louis and Joyce moved to Valley View, he still managed to hunt and fish periodically. On his last deer hunt with his grandson, he joked with friends that, “rumors of my demise are surely exaggerated.” It was important to him to share his financial blessings with the less fortunate. He used to say he was helping the “widows and orphans,” but beyond making sure people had enough, he would take the time to visit sick and elderly friends at home, in the hospital, or skilled nursing to let them know he still cared. The sometimes-gruff combat veteran and business owner had a very big heart that extended beyond immediate family and friends. He was extremely generous and truly enjoyed helping others, an admirable trait that ensures there will be a special place in Heaven for him.

Louis was a lifelong member of Ellen Chapel Church where he was a former church trustee and major donor for construction of the current church. He was a member of the Fort Granville Grange 1902, UCT Council 591, Lewistown Lodge 203 F&AM, Lewistown Commandery, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Shriners, and Lewistown Moose Lodge No. 143. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9, 2015, at the Ellen Chapel Church with Pastor Mark S. Hill officiating. Interment will be in Juniata Memorial Park. Family will receive friends Wednesday, July 8, 2015, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Barr Funeral Home Inc., 120 Logan St., Lewistown. Friends may call Thursday from 9:30 a.m. until time of service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made in Louis' name to Ellen Chapel Church, 11764 Ferguson Valley Road, Lewistown, Pa. 17044.

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