John Michael Vogler

John Michael Vogler, 69, of Little Rock, AR died July 17, 2015, from complications during heart bypass surgery. Michael was born November 23, 1945, in Little Rock, AR to John Adam Vogler and Zoe Ellen Zeisler Vogler. He was a graduate of Subiaco Academy, where he was a Seminarian. He earned both a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a M.S.W. in Program Management at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Michael was the oldest of 12 children who grew up on East 9th Street in downtown Little Rock. He was an altar boy at St. Edwards Catholic Church, threw the newspaper for the Arkansas Gazette, played football for the St. Edwards Dragons, was a champion fence climber, was named Best Camper at Kiwanis Boys Club summer camp, was the first Junior at Subiaco to win the Math Medal, and won it again as a Senior. From a very early age, he possessed a deep belief in both nonviolence and social justice. These beliefs, combined with a heavy dose of moral courage, set in motion what would become his life's journey to achieve peace and justice for all people. He devoted his life to working toward a more just society for the less fortunate, especially children. He was a tireless advocate for people that a lot of folks would rather ignore, while quietly challenging the rest of us to do more. Although he was naturally easygoing, that never seemed to stand in the way when he was compelled to act against oppression and violence. He never shied away from challenging the powerful, working to see wrongs righted, and pushing to make the system work better to serve those who needed it most. He loved people authentically and unconditionally for who they were. He believed that nobody was better than anyone else and that we all deserve an equal right to be heard and to participate. Michael was not only committed to his beliefs, he accepted the consequences for them. As a pacifist, he refused to obey his draft order for the Vietnam War and was arrested on March 5, 1968. He was sentenced to three years in federal prison in Springfield, Missouri, where he served two years and 19 days of that sentence. On January 21, 1977, he and all Vietnam objectors were pardoned by Jimmy Carter in one of his first acts as President. Michael spent his entire professional career working with or for at-risk kids. He worked at Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) from 1979-1989, where he was Assistant State Director; worked for New Futures for Youth from 1990-2011, where he was Director of Case Management, ran the agency's school-based case management program, served as an advisor on comprehensive youth initiatives, was team leader for the organization's work with the Arkansas Department of Health, and retired as Program Specialist; and was an adjunct professor in the UALR School of Social Work. Then-Governor Bill Clinton appointed him to the State Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board, where he served from 1987-1993, and to the State Medicaid Advisory Board, where he served from 1991-2000. It is impossible to list the numerous organizations he was involved with during his life, but we will try: Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Peacemakers, Arkansas Kids Count Coalition Steering Committee, Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids (PARK), Arkansas Parenting Education Network, Boys and Girls Club of Central Arkansas, Arkansas School Boards Association, and the League of United Latin American Citizens. He was very involved in the Catholic Worker movement, ran an underground newspaper at UALR, was manager of the "coffee house" at UALR's Wesley Foundation, and was a master bridge player at the Bridge House in Little Rock. He also taught and presented countless classes, meetings, and workshops covering comprehensive youth services, pre-K education, prevention services, juvenile justice reform, health insurance coverage, and school-based case management. He helped bring the first Annie E. Casey Foundation grant to the state of Arkansas, which led to millions in funding for the state's children. Although he was a major force to be reckoned with when it came to working for a more just world, he was an extremely quiet, humble man who did not talk about his accomplishments. When he was not working to improve conditions for the voiceless, he enjoyed chowing down on crappie he caught with his brothers and washing it down with a cold Pabst Blue Ribbon. He had a lot of fishing stories, but the best one is probably the time he caught a huge bass and put it in his ice chest, but it was flopping around, so he sat on top of the ice chest. Unfortunately, he got really excited the next time he got a strike, and promptly fell off the ice chest and out of the back of the boat. Michael also appreciated the arts and was a season ticket holder to both the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and the Arkansas Repertory Theater. He loved music, and owned every single Jerry Jeff Walker album as well as multiple recordings of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. He owned not one, but two conductor's batons, which he used to conduct the radio from his kitchen. He loved the Razorbacks and, somewhat confusingly, the color orange. He was a poker player who enjoyed weekly games with the Jewish Poker Guys. His first love was his family, especially his daughters and grandchildren. Their favorite memories of him include his "magic" ability to make green eggs and ham, teaching them to fish – and to bait their own hooks, teaching them to score baseball at the Arkansas Travelers games, making lebkuchen every Christmas, sitting in his lap to watch Star Trek (although he wouldn't let them stay up late enough to see Saturday Night Live), and helping them figure out all the secret tricks to winning Super Mario Brothers 3 on Nintendo. He was an accomplished knitter, and once knitted hats, scarves, and slippers for every single one of his nieces and nephews as Christmas gifts. He loved breakfast for dinner, especially oatmeal with brown sugar. He tended numerous vegetable gardens throughout his life, and taught his daughters that if you keep tomatoes in a brown paper bag under the bed, they won't ripen until you want them to. Michael is survived by his loving partner of 10 years, Bonnie Brown Clinton; his daughters, Larushka Vogler Bonney (Marvin) and Hannah K. Vogler (Wes Manus); stepdaughter, Emily Vaughan (Rob); grandchildren, Paul Monroe Bonney, J. Susannah Bonney, Jacob Hooks, and Peyton Hooks; mother Zoe Ellen Vogler, siblings, Eugene Vogler (Bernadette), William Vogler (Carolyn), Mary Ellen Vogler, Margaret Vogler Hoffmann (Garry), Christopher Vogler (Jean), Anne Vogler Mott (Berl), Martha Vogler Sherwood (Bernie), Matthew Vogler, Laurie Vogler Carman (Sam), Stephen Vogler (Carol), Robert Vogler, 25 nieces and nephews, 17 great nieces and nephews, and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his father, John Adam Vogler; his grandparents, Eugene "Ike" and Bertha Theis Vogler, Orrin and Zoe Zeisler; and his niece, Amanda Sherwood Roberts. A celebration of his life will be held from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday, July 25 at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center located at 501 West 9th St. in Little Rock. Michael had his own sense of style, so the family requests casual dress. Please, no fancy ties or uncomfortable shoes. Everyone is welcome to come and share their memories. The family is also compiling a memory book, so also please bring any written memories or photographs to the celebration to contribute. Following the celebration of his life, a "social justice potluck" will be held in the basement at St. Edwards Catholic Church at 9th and Sherman Streets. Having a potluck celebration is based on the fact that, on and off for the last 40 years, Michael enjoyed a weekly Wednesday-night potluck with like-minded people. Michael would not want his legacy to be a series of floral arrangements or plants; instead, please consider making a contribution to the Michael Vogler Memorial Fund at Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families to ensure that his efforts to move for a more just society will continue for decades to come. You can donate at http://www.aradvocates.org/donate/ or via mail to AACF Vogler Fund, 1400 West Markham, Suite 306, Little Rock, Ark. 72223. We live in a world that does not value peace and justice or the people who work for it nearly enough. If Michael's death is able to contribute to the long-term financial support of that work, we believe he would be happy and proud. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.