Lonnie Ray Vogler

Lonnie Ray Vogler, beloved husband, son, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to all was born on April 26, 1950 to loving parents Henry and Dorothy Vogler in Warsaw Missouri. Lonnie passed away peacefully in his sleep February 19, 2021. Lonnie is preceded in death by his mother Dorothy and son Carl. He is survived by his wife Nan, father Henry Vogler, sons Luke (Tammy) Vogler, Zach Vogler, daughter Kathryn (Alex) Brennan and six grandchildren, Emma Jean, Wright and Harrison Brennan, Levi and Noah Vogler and Ellie Vogler, brother Ken (Tamara) Vogler and many nieces and nephews.

Lonnie grew up in the small midwestern town of Cole Camp, Missouri. He strongly believed growing up in his beloved Cole Camp influenced every single direction he took in his life. His relationship with God, family and country all were such a major part of his “Roots”. He always said he was, “Cole Camp Strong”. While definitive proof of his actions as a youth and teenager is rare, based on his stories from later in life, we can only imagine how much fun he had in those formative years. After graduating from Cole Camp High School, Lonnie went on to attend Central Missouri, for his undergraduate degree and University of Missouri for his MBA.

Like many before him, Lonnie looked West to stoke his need for excitement, and it was over summer breaks where he began guiding rivers throughout the West. His time on the rivers taught him a lot about himself, and he maintained many relationships forged through the grind of guiding that lasted his entire life. He also learned the art of story-telling, and he was always known to say not to let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Following his graduation, he relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana where he co-founded a landscaping company. Whether through hard work, charming personality, or fast wit (or the best slogan ever created for a landscaping company in the 70’s and 80’s in New Orleans) “We Sell Grass”, the venture proved a success. After relocating to the Atlanta area, Lonnie utilized his natural gift as a salesman and established a successful insurance brokerage firm that he managed for the next 35 years.

Outside of his professional life, Lonnie loved a good adventure. Whether running Whitewater alone with Nan in the Alaskan wilderness or Summiting Mt. Whitney with his family, Lonnie was always up for a challenge. Lonnie loved to celebrate his milestone birthdays with epic adventures. For his 40th birthday he ran the Marine Corp marathon (in under 4 hours). His 50th birthday was celebrated with a bicycle trip on his recumbent bike from San Diego, California to St. Simons, GA. At 55 he rowed his boat across the state of Missouri on the very slow flowing Missouri River. As if one cross country bike trip wasn’t enough, for his 60th birthday he took a “leisurely” trip from Canada to Mexico down the pacific coast highway with friends and family. At 65 Lonnie took a group of 30 family members to raft the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. In the summer of 2020 to celebrate his 70th birthday Lonnie decided he had 1 more river trip in him and wanted to share his adventurous spirit with his grandchildren, rafting the Salmon River Canyon in Idaho.

Lonnie loved his adventures but he loved his family and friends more! His favorite places were at home in his recliner watching the chaos of grandchildren around him or at Lake Burton entertaining the masses. Those who knew him loved him and if you knew him you knew his love. One of Lonnie’s favorite sayings: Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming Wow… What A Ride! ~Hunter S. Thompson

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Lonnie Vogler to one of the following organizations that meant so much to Lonnie:

(1) Duke Cancer Institute Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancer. Checks can be written to Duke Cancer Institute and can be mailed to Duke University Alumni and Development Records, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708. Donations may also be made online at www.gifts.duke.edu/dci.

(2) The Redside Foundation, which seeks to serve the professional guiding community of Idaho through education, training and support services including the provision of confidential access to mental and physical healthcare and substance abuse counseling for guides and former guides in need. Checks can be written to Redside Foundation and mailed to PO Box 8734, Boise, ID 83707. Donations may also be made online at RedsideFoundation.org/Donate