Wayne Vogel

Wayne Nicholas Vogel passed away peacefully in the company of his family on January 12, 2017. Wayne was born in Keota, Iowa on December 16, 1934. He married his high school sweetheart, Beatrice Bennett, in 1956, and the two of them left the farm with just the money received as gifts at their wedding, to start their life together. They drove west to Lancaster, California, where they started a family and a new business. With his humble beginnings and farm-raised work ethic, Wayne had a plan for a better life, confidence that it could be done, and the drive to work hard to succeed. Wayne founded Old Mill Masonry in 1960, and went on to build many of the commercial buildings in the Antelope Valley and surrounding communities. The company provided employment to hundreds of people over the years, and many of these founded their own successful masonry companies which spread throughout the west.
Wayne’s most important work was his family. After he retired he and Bea enjoyed traveling the world, with Rome, Italy as his favorite city. For two decades, his summers were filled with family trips to Lake Mead for weekends filled with camping and boating. He also enjoyed the company of family and friends in the community, and the door to his shop was always open for anyone that wanted to drop by to talk and share a beverage, often into the late hours of the evening. He was known for always having an entertaining story to share, and a humble desire to quietly help others.
Wayne suffered a devastating heart attack in 2009, and the results left him with extremely limited sight and difficulty thinking and speaking. He worked hard to regain his lost abilities, maintaining high spirits and holding out hope that his condition would improve. This part of his life was humbling, but provided his family with the opportunity to lovingly develop a new relationship of care.
Wayne and Bea celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on January 14, 2017. Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Bea, his children – Jenny Murphy (Ron), Shelly Dilbeck (Gary), Nick Vogel, Carrie Warner (Mike) and Frank Vogel, 10 grandchildren – Danielle, Brandon, Brice, Shane, Candice, Elizabeth, Carly, Samanatha, Taylor and Amber, 2 great grandchildren – Irie and David, and his siblings Leon, Eugene, Dale, Carol, and Jerry. He was preceded in death by his son, Ben, in 1981, his parents, Zeno Victor and Clara Elizabeth Vogel and his sisters Dolores Weber and Donna Bennett. He will be greatly missed by his entire family, friends, and everyone whose life he touched.
In lieu of flowers, his family would appreciate donations to the Antelope Valley Pregnancy Care Center, 1334 E. Palmdale Blvd. Suite E, Palmdale, CA 93550.