Thomas Theodore "Tom" Vogel

Thomas Theodore “Tom” Vogel was born on March 30, 1943 in Muenster, Texas and passed away in Denton, Texas on November 9, 2025 at the age of 82. A rosary and memorial mass were held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 with Fr. Austin Hoodenpyle and Deacon Gary Endres officiating. The readings were read by cousins Danny Hoenig and Delores Hofbauer. A meal was served by the Catholic Daughters at the KC Hall for his family and friends. Tom was the third of six children and the first boy born to Theodore Roman Vogel and Marie Hoenig Vogel. He attended Sacred Heart School, graduating in 1961—one of only 8 boys in his class of 21 students. He and his cousin Marge Vogel were voted “Most Witty”. He then worked in the oil and construction business as well as on the family farm. Tom was drafted into the US Army days after his 22nd birthday: April 1, 1965 and completed his basic training at Ft Polk, LA. He was then stationed in Fort Hood, TX working on tanks as APC’s (Armed Personnel Carrier). While there, his back was injured and had surgery. He said he had “ 60 years of back pain”. He completed his military duty there but drove his blue pickup truck back to Muenster nearly every weekend with cousin, Jim Vogel. Sometimes Tom hurt and had to lay down in the bed of the truck while Jim drove. Following discharge from the Army he worked driving a truck for Bayer Concrete and then worked in the oil and home construction businesses. One of his favorite sayings was, “If you ain’t hurting, you ain’t living”. He was always a jokester with little jokes or funny stories. He was always so lucky, whether gambling at Winstar, playing bingo, the Super Bowl football pool or at the cake walk at the Thanksgiving picnic—he walked away a winner. Tom liked the outdoors, trips to Colorado with Dave Haverkamp to go deer hunting, visits with Willard Hartman in Killeen, TX while at Ft. Hood, Sunday car trips and conversations with cousins Lennie, Weldon, Bob and Jim and visits with other friends. He would often say “When I can’t see my mailbox, I get homesick”. Loved having a big garden—and raised large crops that Tom shared—not with a piece, but a sack of onions, okra, squash, cucumbers and more. He gardened with Dave Haverkamp, then with Roy Klement and then at Weldon Vogel’s community garden in Muenster where he could be found nearly every morning. He experimented with a bread recipe until he perfected it, making five perfect loaves at a time. He could be counted on to bring fresh homemade bread, sliced and ready for the meal after every funeral. He would give the loaves away to friends like he did the vegetables from his garden. Tom is survived by his four sisters, Pat and husband Leonard Bayer of Muenster, Helen Patel of Ft. Worth, Janice and husband Karl Browning of Zionsville, IN, and Jeanne Vogel of Plano; sister-in-law Linda Vogel of Muenster; nephews and their spouses: Mike & Charleen Adair, Aaron Patel, Nick Bass, Roman & Julissa Vogel, Phillip Vogel and nieces—Dana Bass and Laura Browning; great-nieces: Kayla Adair, Leela Vogel; great-nephews: Shawn Adair, Theo Vogel and Jettie Bass. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Michael “Claude” Vogel, brothers-in-law: Dale Adair and Al Patel, and great nieces/nephews—Kevin Patel, Meredeth Browning and Ascension Vogel. His grandparents were Emil & Anna Vogel and Aloys & Anna Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hoenig. Tom donated his body to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas as he was proud to say: “I never finished college, but when I die, I’m going to the University". He was recognized as a generous supporter of the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital with his name on their Legacy Wall display. The burial of his cremains will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery at a later date. Memorials, if desired, should be sent to Sacred Heart Trust Fund.

Thomas Theodore "Tom" Vogel

March 30, 1943 - November 9, 2025