Vogel, John Ludwig (John), died at 89 years in Tulsa after a long, full, well-lived life. John was born on March 24, 1937 in Banner, OK to Carl and Lucille Vogel on their farm. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister, both brothers-in-law, and his beloved wife.

John indulged his questioning nature while growing up by bicycle riding everywhere around their farm and excelling at everything he did in the one-room school house in Yukon, OK. John was a 1955 graduate of Yukon High School where he played football and played the coronet in the marching band. He served as class president as well as class valedictorian.

He then attended the University of Tulsa on a football scholarship where he earned his B.S. degree in petroleum engineering in 1960. In 1959 he married Betty Jo Brown with whom he had and raised 3 children; J. Robert Vogel, Kathryn J. Vogel, Roger A. Vogel.

During college, John worked as a roughneck, roustabout, relief pumper, and mechanics assistant for the oil industry in Colorado, Wyoming, and Oklahoma. He and BJ moved to Kimball, Nebraska where he worked for AMOCO Production Co. as an engineer trainee while continuing his army reserve training. In Fall, 1965, he began a masters degree at T.U. while he continued with his army reserve training. He was honorably discharged from the army reserve in 1966. John earned his petroleum engineering masters of science degree from T.U. night school by May, 1971. John and Betty Jo moved back to Tulsa in Fall, 1961 as BJ was pregnant. John was re-hired at AMOCO Production Co. Research at the Tulsa Lab at 41st & Yale, Tulsa.

There he built a pressure vessel which could withstand 33,000 psi to test deep ocean rigs, programmed the lab control computers, and later evaluated an expert computer system to answer most oil field questions. He taught reservoir field properties in both North America and Egypt. He retired from AMOCO Lab after 33 years as a special research associate.

He was a contract advisor in Reservoir Fluid Properties for the US Dept of Energy (DOE) Lab at T.U. John also contracted to summarize Oil & Gas Journals at the Petroleum Abstracts group at T.U. John was a registered professional engineer for many years, a 50-yr member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, and a distinguished member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He chaired a subcommitee on Petroleum Reservoir Fluids Sampling at the American Petroleum Institute.

John taught Reservoir Fluid Properties throughout his career at company schools, He updated company instruction manuals on fluid properties and fluid sampling. He evaluated a computer expert system to answer most field technician questions. John invented a high-pressure, high-temperature, micro-volume, sampling valve.

He enjoyed working on car engines and electronics the vast majority of his life. John learned about music, food, art, travel, and museums through his marriage, family, friendships, travel, and constant curiosity.

John was rarely without his camera and telephoto lens on family vacations. John loved the outdoors whether lakes, ocean, national parks, gardening, fishing, or walking the dogs.

John retired to became Betty Jo's full-time caregiver in Jan, 1996 (first stroke). Eventually, they joined the Asbury church community; BJ the Chancel Choir. John went to every practice to physically help BJ. They eventually visited others recovering from strokes to lift their spirits and give them a partial roadmap of their recovery concerns. They enjoyed family, friends, travel, train travel videos, food, old movies. And they visited more kind doctors. John's caregiver role was reinforced after January, 2015 (BJ's second stroke). They enjoyed family, friends, food, old movies, and even more doctors. In August, 2021, John lost his beloved wife of 62 years, Betty Jo.

John enjoyed texting family and friends, watching train travel videos, and good food. John's health deteriorated significantly in Jan, 2026 until he joined Betty Jo on the early morning of April 18, 2026.

Our family extends great thanks and blessings to the medical personnel and staff of Saint Francis Hospital, 61st & Yale, Tulsa, and Post Acute Medical, Long-Term Acute Care (PAM-LTAC) facility, 33rd & Memorial, Tulsa for their tender care of both our father and us.

John is survived by his children and grandchild, Bob Vogel, Sonya Kuo (Bobs wife), Andrej Vogel (grandson), Kathryn Vogel, Roger Vogel; Jannene Brown (sister-in-law); nieces Brenda Featherston, Carole Todd, Debbie Meraz, Jennifer Benning, and families; cousins George Dolezal, Eddie Joe Dolezal, Dick Dolezal, and families; Charlotte Moss, Mike Moss, Clyde Moss, and families.

The family sends great thanks and praise to the medical personnel and staff of Saint Francis Hospital, 61st & Yale, Tulsa, Post-Acute Medical, Long-Term Acute Care facility, 33rd & Memorial, Tulsa, for their tender care of both our father and us.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to:

The American Heart Association or The Nature Conservancy.

Memorial Services will be held at 10:30am on Tuesday, June 9th at Asbury Church's Mason Chapel, 6767 S Mingo Rd, Tulsa, OK 74133

To Those I Love and Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go-

I have so many things to see and do.

You musn't tie yourself to me with tears,

Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love. You can only guess

How much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown.

But now it's time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me if grieve you must

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It's only for awhile that we must part

So bless the memories within your heart.

I won't be far away, for life goes on

So if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near-

And if you listen with your heart, you'll hear

All of my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,

I'll great you with a smile, and "Welcome Home."

Moore Southlawn 918-663-2233