Janet Vogts

Janet Vogts, 64, passed away peacefully at North Kansas City Hospice on April 10th, 2025 after a valiant year long battle with cancer. She was proceeded in death by her mother, Helen Kostelac, her brother, Ronald Kostelac and niece Corey Kostelac. She was survived by her children Jesse Vogts and Katie Dobberteen, her Grandchildren, Charlotte and Madeline Dobberteen, her father, Frank Kostelac, brothers Frank and Kevin Kostelac and sisters, Donna Kostelac, Diane Strick and husband, Dave Strick.

Janet was born on June 2nd, 1960 to Frank and Helen Kostelac in Kansas City, Kansas. She graduated from high school in 1978 and in 1984 moved to Branson Missouri with her former spouse. In 2013, she settled in Sioux Falls, South Dakota before returning to Kansas City in 2017 to be closer to family.

Janet was a multitalented lady in her professional and her personal life. Professionally, she helped start and run a construction and excavation company in which she learned to drive dump trucks and became a heavy equipment operator while managing the financial strains of the company. Later, she became a massage therapist and then ended her career as a successful fraud investigator in the banking industry.

In her personal life, she had many interests. She was an accomplished gardner and a certified mineralogist. She felt that having her hands in the dirt was very healing. She was an extraordinary cook and many agreed that she could create a gourmet meal practically out of thin air. She was a talented musician and even wrote a few songs. She loved to paint and had a flare for interior decorating.

What really defined Janet was her love, empathy and forgiveness especially for her family and children. From an early age she had a way with children and was adored by both of hers. In their teen years, she was known as Mama Vogts to a few of her son’s friends due to her empathy and kindness. After her own children grew up, she would make long drives to see them or flights to San Diego multiple times a year. She would be a mother figure to many young people she worked with and would babysit her friend’s children. When the grandchildren were born, she was always holding them and caring for them while cooking meals so her daughter could rest. Later, it was hide and seek, scavenger hunts, painting, SeaWorld and the zoo. As they got older, it was hikes, nature and learning about her love for Jesus as she taught them about his kindness empathy and forgiveness. She moved across the street from her father to be with him in his later years and help him as much as she could. She would have Sunday and Holiday dinners at her house. She would make home cooked food to give to the family. She would attend family functions, baby showers and cousin get togethers where they would reminisce about the days when the cousins would roam the neighborhood streets. She would walk the plaza with her cousin Beth after having a good meal. Her love for Jesus showed in the way she cared for her family and loved them without judgment. Loosing Janet was an enormous loss for the family and she will be deeply missed.

Please join us for Janet’s celebration of life on Saturday April 26th, 2025 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, KS 66112.