John Edward Vogt, 90, passed away January 3, 2015 with family by his side. In true Marine Corps fashion, he fought the good fight. However, with overwhelming odds stacked against him, he decided his opponent could have this battle since he knew he would see his final victory standing at God's side.

John was born in Monett, Missouri on April 30, 1924 to Eugene and Ella (Wimsatt) Vogt. He is survived by Jean, his wife of 62 years; and his step-son Mike; his children: Michelle "Mitchell-shell", Joel "Joey/Joe Bomber" and wife Stacy, Julie "Jules" and Nicki "Tex"; his grandchildren: Michael Sean, Jessica, Christa, Beau, Glenn, Luke, Clint, Courtney, Justin, Jordan and Taylor; his great-grandchildren: Xander, Brock, Win, Jackson, Jett, Sophia and Reb; his brother Jim "Hiney" and wife Joyce; sister-in-law Lorretta, and many, many nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly and, even at the end, could remember all of them, who they belonged to, and what was happening in their lives! Faith, family and friends were most important to him and he cherished them all. He also loved to golf, play pool and, as he reminisced in the hospital "really enjoyed smoking cigarettes". He also loved his country and the Marine Corps.

He joined the Marine Corps in June of 1941 at the age of 17. He fought in the Pacific campaign of WWII, most notably the Guadalcanal Campaign and the Battle of Tarawa. He served with the Marines until 1944, when he was sent to hospital for bomb and mortar related injuries. He was honorably discharged in December of 1944. On October 12th, 1945 he joined the Merchant Marines and served on the ship "The Republic". He then took a couple of years, "to sort things out" and crisscrossed the country with the wave of his thumb, working odd jobs for his travel money as he went. In 1949 he fell into a decent job at Douglas Aircraft and decided to call Tulsa home. While bowling in a league for the company, he met Jean. When asked if it was love at first sight he would reply, "Hell yes, you should have seen her bowling average". The rest is, as they say, history. He lived a good life and lived it on his terms, to the end.

He is preceded in death by his parents and seven of his siblings; Glenn, Junior, Jewell, Mary, Bill, Tom and Pat. He is undoubtedly with them right now, joyously singing, dancing, playing the piano, and retelling the countless stories of his life in his most entertaining manner. He is reunited with his fallen Marine buddies, reminiscing and quite possibly smoking that one last cigarette.

Donations can be made in his name to Catholic Charities, PO Box 580460, Tulsa, OK 74158.

Rosary Service will be Thursday, January 8, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. and Funeral Mass will be Friday, January 9, at 1:30 p.m., both at Christ the King Church, 16th and South Quincy, Tulsa, OK.

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151