James William Vogel

James William (Jim) Vogel passed away peacefully April 9, 2025, at the age of 96. He leaves behind a large and growing family who loved him immensely, along with a lasting legacy of service, involvement, and achievements in the Evansville community and surrounding area.

Jim was born August 13, 1928 on an 80 acre farm in Lamar, Indiana. He completed his elementary education in a one-room schoolhouse on Elm Corner in Lamar, graduated from Dale High School in Dale, IN and matriculated to Evansville College (now University of Evansville) where he earned a degree in Marketing. While attending Evansville College, he played varsity baseball all four years as a left-handed pitcher and was a member of Pi Epsilon Phi fraternity, the Business Men’s Club, and “E” club.

Shortly after graduation in 1952, Jim married the love of his life, Marianna (Cubbison) Vogel. They were married for 72 devoted years until her passing last year on July 22, 2024.

Also in 1952, Jim partnered with a college friend, Robert Northerner, to found Dale Sales Co., Inc., a distribution business supplying non-food merchandise to grocery stores. Their company grew from the trunk of a car into a firm that eventually serviced five states and employed hundreds in the tri-state area.

Later in 1952, all of this was interrupted when Jim was called into service with the U.S. Army. He served from 1952 to 1954, sixteen months of which was in combat during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Sergeant First Class in an artillery battery, and was awarded the Bronze Star for his role in a critical mission during that time. Jim returned from Korea to his new wife and business and devoted himself for the next decades to building a loving family, leading a successful company, and establishing a long legacy of community involvement and service.

He was very involved over the years in Bethel United Church of Christ, serving as president twice and chairing the building committee responsible for the church’s current location on North Green River Road. He served on the Board of Directors of Permanent Federal Savings Bank and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, was active in guiding the YMCA’s construction activities, and he was a co-owner and Vice President of the Evansville Triplets, a Class AAA baseball team, until 1984. He loved to hunt quail and play golf. He was a member and past president of Rolling Hills Country Club and was named an honorary lifetime member last year.

Jim served on the Board of Directors for Deaconess Hospital for many years, serving five of those as President. One of his proudest accomplishments in life was in helping to establish and nurture the hospital board’s vision to acquire the land for what would become the current Deaconess Gateway campus in Newburgh, IN. It was fitting that he spent his final days being compassionately cared for by the exceptional Deaconess staff at both Gateway and at the Linda E. White Hospice facility. The family thanks both Deaconess Health System and Primrose Retirement Community for their kind and loving care.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 72 years, Marianna (Cubbison) Vogel, his parents, Robert F. and Louise (Wohlleb) Vogel, brothers John Vogel (Margaret), Al Vogel (Helen), Paul Vogel (Betty), and sisters Esther Hoops (Gene), Norma Bowen (Rollin).

Jim is survived by his three sons and their growing families: Rob Vogel (Lori) and grandchildren James and Jacqui Vogel; Ron Vogel and grandchildren Amy Pfunder (Craig), Alex Vogel (Chris Dickey and great granddaughter Jade), and Ben Vogel (Emily and great granddaughter Maeve, great grandson Colin); and Kurt Vogel (Shelly) and granddaughters Julianne, Claire, and Mia Vogel.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on June 28, 2025, at Bethel United Church of Christ, 3029 N. Green River Road. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Bethel U.C.C. Memorial Fund or to Habitat for Humanity of Evansville.