June Vogt

Her story began on June 5, 1931, when she was born at home on the family farm, SW of Kingfisher, Oklahoma to the late Ernest Louis Toepfer and (Margaretta) Gertrude Snethen. She was sister to, Edith, Loran, Evelyn, Naomi, James, Charles, Paul, and Martha. She grew up on the farm and told stories of many happy hours playing with her siblings. She loved playing piano from an early age and was able to play by ear even as a child.

She attended Omega Public Schools and graduated high school in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She and her family attended the Nazarene Church of Kingfisher, which was started in her own parents' backyard and later moved into a new building in town. When she moved to Wichita, she joined Grace Presbyterian Church where she immediately felt at home. She remained a member there until her death.

In 1949, she married Alvin Miller, with whom she had 3 children, Kent, Cary and Susan. During her lifetime, she’d marry Randy Walters, John Merrell (with step-children Linda, Richard and Janet), and lastly, Harold Vogt (with step-children Greg, Bruce, and Laurel).

June became an optician in the 1950’s and initially worked for Dr. Ed Moore, an eye doctor in Arkansas City. She later worked for the optical department at Sears. She was talented at sales and became an invaluable member of the staff. In the late 1960's, she went to work for Cole National Corporation, the parent company of Sears, as their National Training Director. She was the first woman on the executive staff and represented Cole National at the 1973 OAA convention in Washington DC. As training director, she authored all of the training and procedural manuals and conducted training seminars throughout the country. She then worked as the product merchandise buyer at Cole National and during this time she was asked to speak at national optical conventions.

In 1973, she opened The Spectacle Shoppe in Clifton Square in Wichita, an independent retail optical shop. She was proud of the success of this business and received many commendations from the business and optical communities. She continued to run the business until 1986, when her son Kent and his wife Roxie took over ownership. The business and its success continue to this day.

After retirement, she started attending classes at the Shepherd Center, where she studied creative writing and painting. She became a prolific painter and left many beautiful paintings which adorned her walls and the walls of many family members. Other hobbies and talents included designing and sewing her own clothing and that of her children, calligraphy, cooking, writing stories and poetry, crocheting, and designing spaces.

Throughout her life she remained a gifted pianist and continued to play until the last months. Not only could she read music and play by ear, but could also transpose music from one key to another as she was playing, seemingly without thinking about it. She often accompanied other musicians. She loved playing old hymns as well as classical music, and in addition would often sit down at the piano and play beautiful music of her own creation, improvising as she went. She was a piano teacher as well, both to family members and others. Her last class was teaching piano to a group of seniors, aged 70-91.

June had a generous and loving personality and was like a mother to many others besides her own children. She had many, many friends who were “the breath of life to her” and she was generous with her love, her smiles and her music. She was charming to strangers and friends alike, and loved a good laugh. She was an optimistic person who chose to dwell in the light even though she suffered many tragedies during her life, including the death of all 3 of her biological children.

She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by: Sister, Martha Stagner; Daughter-in-Law, Roxie Miller; Step-children: Gregory J. Vogt (Kathleen Dewey), Bruce A. Vogt (Mary Holle), and Laurel A. Vogt (Gianfranco Pezzino); grandchildren: Anthony Kent Miller, Kindt Jack Miller, Mary June Hayes, and Crystal Miller Richey; step-grandchildren: Elizabeth Dewey-Vogt, Daniel Dewey-Vogt (Lily), Olivia Dewey-Vogt, Matteo Pezzino (Jewel), Martina Pezzino (Courtney Winchester), and Stefano Pezzino; 24 nieces and nephews; and many great-grandchildren.

Rejoicing in her eternal freedom, she now reunites with: Her husband, Harold W. Vogt; her parents; 7 siblings: Edith Nice (Clyde), Loran Toepfer (Mildred), Evelyn Clason (Warren), Naomi Tidwell (Harry), James Toepfer (Darlene), Charles Toepfer (Rose), Paul Toepfer (Dorothy) and brother-in-law Don Stagner; and her 3 children - (Kerwyn) Kent Miller, (deceased 2024 age 76), Cary Don Miller, (deceased age 44), and Susan Gay Miller (deceased age 14 months of congenital heart disease).

Please join us a Celebration of Life Memorial Service on Saturday, January 11, 2025, 10:30 AM at Grace Presbyterian Church, 5002 East Douglas Ave., Wichita, Kansas.

Memorials can be made to Grace Presbyterian Music Department.