If you knew Grandma Vogel, you knew strength, kindness, and a love for family that was
unmatched. Her legacy isn’t just in the stories we tell, but in the way she made each of us feel
—deeply loved, valued, and always welcome at her table.
It is said that your legacy is determined by the number of hearts you touch within your lifetime.
Well Grandma Vogel left a legacy that most people can only dream of creating.
That example she set for us started early in her life. As soon as she was able, she was helping
Grandpa Peruski on the farm. It didn’t matter that she was a girl. She was the oldest child, so
she became Grandpa’s right hand man on the farm and spent hours doing heavy labor outside.
It is no wonder that she was the strongest, most independent woman I knew. If she knew
something needed to be done, she just took care of it.
That brings me to my favorite story about Grandma. I once asked her when her family got their
first stove. Without missing a beat, she said, "Well, I was about 10 or 11 when I bought Ma her
first stove." I paused. "Wait, what? 10?" She nodded. "Yeah. I babysat ten times to earn that
stove because I knew Ma would like it and it would make things easier for her, so I did it." I
tried explaining to her how amazing that was, and she just brushed it off: "We just did what we
needed to do to help each other out. It’s nothing special."
But it was special. That’s how she lived her entire life—doing what she needed to do to help
people out and making sure her family was taken care of –expecting nothing in return.
Like… learning how to drive at age 9 so she could help in that way. Driving a widow to Romeo
at age 14 so the lady could visit her son, the judge. Taking her car to school so she could
transport the kids to other schools so they could play their baseball games. Then later working
as a bus driver for more than 20 years to make sure kids got to and from school safely. She was
always using her talents to help others before thinking about herself.
She also loved helping take care of her siblings and took great pride in watching them grow up.
Visiting her Grandma Peruski’s house was a favorite pastime Grandma and her siblings all shared.
She talked about the joy they found in getting treats at her grandma’s house—it must be why we
always got treats from her. Talking with my cousins, that has become a favorite memory we all
have of Grandma’s house. It was your own fault if you left without at least a piece of candy from
the chicken jar.
I think a lot of our favorite memories of Grandma have food involved. It wouldn’t have been
Sunday without family dinners on the farm after church, Grandma behind the stove with her
apron on, the smell of fresh bread or cinnamon rolls filling the kitchen, or us patiently waiting to
see what kind of pies she was baking that day. Her signature dish, baked beans, steaming in a
roaster. The food table at all holidays was packed full of enough food to feed us all for a week.
Grandma could bake like no other, and she gratefully passed down her knowledge to us. She was
always interested to hear what new recipes I was trying. Every time she complimented me about
the things I made for her, it made me feel so special and connected to her. To be complimented
on food by Grandma was the greatest praise in my eyes.
Beyond the food, every time I swim, I think of Grandma and the pool on the farm. I am pretty
sure all of the cousins learned to swim in that pool and we spent countless hours together every
summer swimming the day away. We all remember Halloween and anxiously waiting to see what
costume Grandma would have on. I know she loved having all of the great grandkids stop and
see her every Halloween and she looked forward to that day every year.
Grandma loved watching the Tigers, well all but a few of the pitchers. A memory many of us
have is loading up on a party bus with her for her 75th birthday to go to a Tigers game. And I
don’t think any of us will ever forget playing poker with Grandma. You did not leave your house
without your change jar if you were going to a Vogel holiday. And I know Chad will never forget
their Acey Duecy pot. We all remember our birthday cards signed by Grandma with some lottery
tickets and cash. She was always down for a game of euchre, rummi q, pinnacle, or golf.
Grandma made us dresses, stitched our pants, and sewed on our buttons. She was a seamstress
from her young 4-H days, and still had the first shirt she made. There wasn’t anything Grandma
couldn’t sew. And she crocheted the most beautiful afghans.
Grandma loved to read, listen to her radio, and watch the birds, especially the cardinals and
purple martins. But she was also a woman of adventure. She didn’t hesitate to move to California
at the age of 16 after marrying Grandpa when he was stationed in the Air Force. She loved to
travel the country in the motorhome, went on trips with Virg, hit the casino, cruised town in her
ranger, and even decided to get her motorcycle license at age 70. Some of her favorite stories to
tell us involved some pretty crazy adventures in Mexico with Aunt Virginia.
She loved that so many of us came to visit her in Florida. She really valued all the time she spent
with us whether we were all together or with her individually. There was always someone
stopping by to visit her. And she packed the outside of her fridge with pictures of all of us.
Grandma loved to play Hay Day. Her farm was her prized possession and she got many of us to
sell her bolts and other products and carried on countless discussions about our farms. But her
farm was superior to all and she took great pride in that.
Grandma’s faith was strong. She told me she prayed for every person in our family every night
before she went to bed. She loved us all so deeply.
Now, as I sit here reflecting on the legacy she left for me, I realize she has truly shaped me into
the person I have become. Traditions, making everyday moments special, and sharing my talents
are so important to me because that’s the foundation she created. I don’t think the things I do are
extraordinary or special either—they are just the things that might make things a little better for
someone else, just like she taught me. And I know that’s the case for each of you sitting here
today. She was so proud of her kids, her grandkids, and her great-grandkids because you all live
your life in the way she taught.
Grandma was the matriarch of this family, our anchor, our guiding light. She never gave up on
anything. She has left us with a legacy of love, resilience, and service. Her presence will be
missed so much. My mom’s bar stools and back patio will never be the same. But how grateful
we are to have had so many memories with her. We will carry you with us, Grandma—in the
traditions we keep, in the love we share, and in the way we take care of each other, just like you
taught us. Oh Grandma, thank you for being you and for loving us for who we are. We are all
better because of you.
We Love you!
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