Richard Alan Vogelei

Richard Alan (Rick) Vogelei (72) died January 23, 2026 from Bile Duct Cancer at his home in Tucson, AZ. He was born March 1, 1953 in Lakewood, Ohio to Bob and Janet Vogelei.

A 1975 graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in Communications, Rick was retired as Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Semico Research in Phoenix, with expertise in market strategy and business growth within the semiconductor industry. Rick is survived by his wife of 50 years, Barbara Vogelei. Together they have two children, Caroline Sepp (Todd), Tucson, AZ and Richard Matthew (Matt) Vogelei, Tucson, AZ, and four grandchildren, Reagan, Bennett, Jack, and Olive. Siblings include Kirk (Joan) Vogelei, Clarkston, MI, Nancy Lesinski, Troy MI, and Chris Vogelei, Royal Oak, MI.

An avid Michigan State Spartans football fan, Rick also embraced the University of Arizona Wildcats Athletics with his career move West.

A celebration of Rick's life will take place Friday, February 27, at St.Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 5150 N Valley View Road, Tucson, beginning at 11:00AM MST, with a gathering immediately following at the church.

Family and friends are invited to remember Rick with a donation in his name to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation (https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/donate/), the leading global resource in research, education and public awareness of Bile Duct Cancer, or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/get-involved).