Virgil Vogel

PEKIN - Virgil J. "Sonny" Vogel, 84, of Pekin passed away at 4:35 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, at his residence.

He was born Oct. 2, 1929, in rural Tazewell County, a son of Virgil William and Lela Viola (Griffin) Vogel. He was married to Wilanna Jo Hopkins on Oct. 18, 1958, at St. Joseph Catholic Church by Father Christopher Schramm. Virgil and Wilanna recently had their vows blessed by Father Scott Potthoff on the occasion of their 55th wedding anniversary.

Virgil is survived by his wife, Wilanna; two sons, Virgil William Vogel III of Pekin and Vincent William Vogel of Kansas City, Mo.; three daughters, Teresa Marie Vogel and Lela Vogel-Tutorino, both of Kansas City, Mo., and Andrea Marie (Ian) Morrison of Pekin; and seven grandchildren, Anna Vogel, Mina Vogel, Vincent George Tutorino, B. Gianna Tutorino, Jacqueline Morrison, Gina Morrison and Lucas Morrison. He also leaves his foster grandson, Jonathan A. (Lucy) Brown; and six foster great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Paul William Vogel; and one sister, Eileen Vogel Pinzino.

He was a United States Air Force veteran of the Korean War.

Virgil began his grocery career helping his father in his vegetable stand at age 8. He worked his way up in the family business as a stock boy, manager and then president of Vogel's Inc. for a total of 40 years. He also was president of Bird Farm Sausage for 25 years. Virgil had wonderful artistic abilities and did ad layouts for the store and sign painting for more than 30 years.

He was a former member of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the First National Bank Board of Directors. He was a former Rotarian and member of the Pekin Elks Lodge. Virgil was a life member of the William Schaefer American Legion Post 44 in Pekin.

He loved to fish with family and friends and enjoyed taking his family on long summer vacations to experience our beautiful Western U.S. He later enjoyed boating and fishing on Lake Arlann in Pekin.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus Archbishop Schlarman Council 3507, both in Pekin.

Family was important to Virgil and his grandchildren were the joy of his life.

His funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2013, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pekin. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin, with the recitation of the Rosary at 4:30 p.m. Burial will be in Glendale Memorial Gardens in Pekin, where military rites will be accorded by the United States Air Force.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 303 S. 7th St., Pekin, IL 61554 or to the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate, 4722 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria, IL 61614.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com.