Galen Glen Vogel

Galen Glen Vogel, born May 10, 1938, passed away Sunday, March 9, 2014 at the age of 75. He succumbed to complications of mesothelioma cancer in his home with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife of 49 1/2 years, Elaine Vogel, two sons, Jeff Vogel and Greg Vogel, sisters Marilyn Beck and Eleanor Stueckradt, brother Hugh Vogel, daughter-in-law Annette Vogel, granddaughters Kirsten and Courtney, and niece, Janell Paschall.

Galen was born in Corning, Iowa to Glen and Lola Vogel. He grew up on a farm in Lenox, Iowa where he graduated from high school. Galen then went on to earn his BS degree in music education at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri in 1960 and taught music in Fort Dodge, Iowa for three years. He moved on to obtain his Master's degree in music education from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado in 1964. It was here that he met and married his wife, Elaine.

They soon moved to Lake Elsinore, California followed by Corona, California were he taught music at Raney Junior High School. Galen and Elaine moved once again in 1972 where he spent the next 42 years of his life. It was here he spent the majority of his music career teaching 19 years at Huntington Beach High School and five years at Westminster High School. Galen retired from full time teaching in 1996 after 35 years in education.

In 1996 Galen turned a lifelong hobby and passion of home improvement into a second career as a handyman for several property management firms. He continued his second calling until being diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer in August of 2013.

A memorial service is scheduled for Thursday, March 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Seabreeze Church, 18162 Gothard Street, Huntington Beach, California. Outreach Pastor Dale Graham will officiate the service.

Arrangements under the direction of Westminster Memorial Park Mortuary ~FD1030, Westminster, CA.