Bobby Vogel

Bobby ("Robert L.") Vogel, 56, Grand Forks, ND, died Thursday, November 15, 2012 in Altru Hospital of Grand Forks, ND after a sudden illness. Bobby was born April 21, 1956 in Fargo, ND the son of Robert and Elsa (Mork) Vogel. He was raised and educated in Mandan and Bismarck, ND, then moved to Grand Forks with his parents in the early 1970s. He was deeply involved in the Grand Forks community over several decades. Bobby had a deep and abiding passion for self-advocacy by persons with disabilities and for justice and civil rights for persons with disabilities. He received many awards for this work over the years. In 1988 he received from The ARC both the Charlie Brychta Memorial Award and the Outstanding Citizenship Award. In 1997, he was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Grand Forks Mayor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. In 1998 he was given the runner up for the Disabled North Dakotan of the Year Award by the State of North Dakota and the Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. In 2002 he was given the Volunteer Service Award for 10 years of service to the ARC Upper Valley. He served as a Board member of Grand Forks Homes, Inc. for four years, where he represented persons with special housing needs. He was also very active in such organizations as Partners in Policy Making; Self-Advocates Becoming Empowered; the L.I.S.T.E.N. Center, Self-Advocacy Solutions North Dakota ("S.A.S") where he was a team leader. With his friends Carla and Helen, he travelled nationwide as a motivational speaker with "Choices for a Better Tomorrow" for Self Advocacy Solutions. He played the role of James Bond. Bobby was very entrepreneurial and active in his own consumer products sales business, Vogel Enterprises, Bobby was active in politics. On the local, state and federal level, he worked hard for the Democratic/NPL party and its candidates and was a delegate to a number of conventions. This year, he was proud to have had his photo taken with President Bill Clinton. In 2008, he shook hands with Barack Obama. He made many trips to the North Dakota legislature where he lobbied for civil rights and accessibility issues. He was particularly proud of his role in passing the law regarding handicapped parking and the fine for violating that law. In the November 2012 election, he worked on the "GoVoter" project of the Self Advocates Becoming Empowered. On the local level, he often attended and advised city government officials on disability issues and was active in the Mayor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities for decades. Bobby was an active member of the Unitarian Universalist congregation of Grand Forks, where he served on the program committee as well as other positions. He was a member of the Grand Forks Toastmasters. Bobby enjoyed music, art and travel for business, motivational speaking, and recreation. He recently enjoyed a trip to Disneyland. Bobby had many physical challenges but he surmounted those challenges, viewing them as hills to be climbed not barriers. One of his proudest achievements was obtaining a G.E.D. degree, and he was a lifelong learner. He lived by the motto: "Always remember -- be kind, be fair, be honest, be true; and all those things will come back to you." He was a great support for his family and will be deeply missed by the many people whose lives he touched and whom he inspired to be the best that they could be. Survivors include his sisters, Mary (Ron) Carrick, Mandan, ND and Sarah Vogel and her long time friend, Rudra Tamm, Bismarck, ND; brother, Frank (Melanie) Vogel, Newport, New Hampshire; nieces and nephews, Bill Carrick, Ann Kirchmeier, Will Vogel, Andrew Gold and Lara Vogel; and his grand nieces and nephews (Tsenguun, Cambelle, John, Grace, Sage, Alexander, and Oscar). He will also be deeply missed by his good friend and caregiver Brandy Jensen and her daughter Helena and many others that were his other family of friends. Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Elsa Vogel. In lieu of flowers, the family believe that Bobby would have recommended donations to Self Advocacy Solutions of North Dakota. A Celebration of Life Service will be 1:00 PM Sunday, November 18, 2012 in Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks, ND. A Gathering time and light lunch will begin noon Sunday at Amundson Funeral Home and will continue until the time of the service. A Memorial Service will be held in Bismarck, ND at a later date.