Cleota Vogel

Cleota Mae Vogel, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2025, at the Montgomery County Memorial Hospital in Red Oak, Iowa, at the age of eighty-five. She was born on May 28, 1939, at home on a farm in rural Barnard, Missouri, to Willard Elmer and Mildred Magdalene (Pedersen) Nelson.

Cleota was raised outside of Barnard and attended country school through eighth grade. She graduated as Valedictorian from South Nodaway High School with the Class of 1957, setting the tone early for a life marked by quiet perseverance and achievement. It was during her time at Northwest Missouri State College that she met her future husband, Don Vogel. The couple united in marriage on June 14, 1959, in Guilford, Missouri. In 1959, their lives took a significant turn, as they both paused their college educations to take over the family farm in Iowa following the passing of Don’s father. This partnership flourished with the arrival of three cherished children: Sandy, Julie, and Brad.

Cleota and Don later returned to complete their college educations, with Cleota earning her B.S. in Secondary Education in 1972. She began her teaching career in Griswold through student teaching before taking a position as a high school teacher in Massena for a year. In the years that followed, she balanced substitute teaching with raising her family and helping Don on the farm—demonstrating the adaptability and quiet strength that defined her life. Later, Cleota transitioned into a new role at UARCO in Corning, where she spent 17 years designing business forms. She continued to support her family in various capacities, including working alongside Don at his Auto Body Shop and keeping the farm books until her retirement three years ago.

Cleota’s involvement in her church and community reflected her devotion to family and service. She was an active member of the Lincoln Center United Methodist Church until 1984, where she participated in the Lincoln Center Ladies Aide, served as Sunday School Superintendent, and taught Bible school. She later became a member of the Corning United Methodist Church and held a quiet, enduring faith that remained a source of strength throughout her life. Cleota was also active in the Lincoln Township Club and co-led the Eager Beavers 4-H Club for a decade, alongside her daughters, Sandy and Julie, who were members.

Cleota is remembered as a kind and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a true giver who poured her heart into caring for her family. Known for her exceptional baking and cooking, Cleota made every family gathering a celebration of love, creating cherished memories and traditions—many of which live on today as her children and grandchildren lovingly recreate her orange salad, baked beans, angel food cake, and chocolate syrup brownies. She supported her family in every way—helping Don in any way she could, attending all her children’s school events, and joyfully spending time with her grandchildren. After becoming empty-nesters, she and Don went dancing every week and enjoyed taking their collector cars to car shows and parades. Cleota also found joy in listening to country music, reading, and writing—whether it was creating customized greeting cards for every occasion, writing heartfelt letters to her parents and children, or journaling about farm life and family events. She was also an avid TV “Wheel of Fortune” fan and cherished it as a special routine she and Don continued to share in her later days. Cleota possessed a quiet strength and lived with grace and resilience, adapting to life’s changes with dignity—a trait that became more evident as her health declined in later years.

Cleota is remembered with love by her husband of nearly 66 years, Don Vogel; her daughters, Sandy Marn of Red Oak, Iowa, and Julie (Chad) Suiter of Johnston, Iowa; her son, Brad (Karen) Vogel of Corning, Iowa; and her six grandchildren: Garrett Marn, Andrew Suiter, Elliot Suiter (fiancé Harini), Rachael (Kyle) Beverage, Katie Vogel, and Dylan Vogel. She will also be dearly missed by her brother, Charles (Marge) Nelson and sisters: Ruth Dunn, Mary Ann (Ron) Edwards, Sharon Hayden, and Barbara (Frank) Henley, along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Cleota is preceded in death by her parents; three brothers-in-law: John Dunn, Don Hayden, and Mike Stratton; as well as a nephew, Tim Edwards, and a niece, Cynthia Dunn.