Ruth Gorman Vogele
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Western Springs, IL - Ruth Gorman Vogele, passed away peacefully Tuesday night, December 21, 2021, in White River Junction, VT. She was 94. Ruth was born September 28, 1927 in Mattoon, IL, the daughter of Anthony and Mildred Augusta "Gussie" (Cavins) Gorman. She grew up in Champaign, IL and attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1949 where she received her bachelor's degree in geography and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. It was at the University of Illinois that she met and later married her husband Robert Vogele on September 20, 1952. After getting married, Ruth and Bob moved to Puerto Rico where Bob was stationed during the Korean War. Ruth and Bob later lived and raised their family in Western Springs, IL, living there for over 50 years before moving to Burr Ridge, IL in 2006. Ruth moved to White River Junction, VT in September 2021 to be closer to her daughter, Nancy. Married to an accomplished husband, Ruth often chose to take a back seat to Bob, always taking it in stride. One night at a fancy reception someone asked Ruth what it felt like being married to a genius. She smiled and answered "I don't know, why don't you ask Bob?" While raising four children, Ruth became a visionary in her own right. She was the first woman to be President of the Western Springs Park District in the mid-seventies, a Village of Western Springs Trustee from 1977-81, and the first woman to be Chairperson of the Good Samaritan Hospital Governing Council in Downers Grove IL. Ruth was also the Co-Chair of the town's Centennial Commission in 1986. Not surprisingly, Ruth was named one of two Western Spring's Inaugural Citizens of the Year in 1987. Ruth was a devoted mother who was always her kids biggest fan, no matter what the activity. She was continually involved with her children's schools, whether being a room mother, the picture lady, or volunteering to chaperone on a class field trip. Ruth took up running in the 1970's before it was popular and practiced Pilates into her 90's. With her husband Bob, they enjoyed collecting art and becoming friends with the artists whose art they collected. Ruth and Bob traveled extensively over the years and enjoyed owning homes in Snowmass, CO and Phoenix, AZ. She was predeceased by her husband Robert who died August 3, 2018. Ruth is survived by her children and their spouses Tom and Jennifer Vogele (of Carmel, CA), Mark and Lisa Vogele (of Loveland, CO), Bruce and Tammy Vogele (of LaGrange, IL) and Nancy Vogele and Lynn Feenan (of White River Junction, VT); her grandchildren, Britta, Margit, Patrick, Taylor, Ross, Adam, Felix, Mikkel, Lucas, Alex, Ariel, and Lily; and her great-grandchildren, Maddox, Bo, Warren, Jude, Aidan, Olivia, Amelie, Ozzie, Link, Wyatt and Emmett. Ruth was a member of the First Congregational Church of Western Springs, IL for over 65 years. A memorial service will be held at the church at 2pm on Saturday, May 21, 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-involved/other-ways-give) or the First Congregational Church, 1106 Chestnut Avenue, Western Springs, IL (https://onrealm.org/wscongo/-/form/give/memorial). Condolences to her family may be made at an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com.