Vogt, Vernon (1922-2006)

Vernon William Vogt (1922-2006) and Mildred Harder Vogt (1924- ): missionaries in the Belgian Congo. Vernon was born on 13 June 1922 in Bessie, Oklahoma, USA to Jacob and Martha (Wiens) Vogt. He was the eldest of five children in the family. He married Mildred Harder near Ogallala, Nebraska, USA on 24 August 1944. Mildred was born to Cornelius E. and Maria (Kornelsen) Harder on 1 March 1924 in Henderson, Nebraska, USA. The couple had four children, one of whom died before his parents. Vernon and Mildred were medical missionaries in the Belgian Congo for four years before settling in Newton, Kansas, where Vernon worked as a doctor. He died there on 28 January 2006.

Vernon Vogt was born in Bessie, Oklahoma, as the eldest of five children. He attended Tabor Academy before continuing his studies at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas. He attended church throughout his childhood but was not converted until his Bible school years. He was baptized in Hillsboro, Kansas on 8 September 1935. Mildred came to faith at the age of 10 and was baptized and accepted into the Paxton Mennonite Brethren Church two years later. She became active in the church, working with the Vacation Bible School program and also speaking to people about faith. After finishing her studies at Ogalla High School, she began a two-year program at Tabor College, graduating in 1943 before continuing on for another year of studies there.

Through studying together at Tabor College, Vernon Vogt and Mildred Harder got to know each other. They married on 24 August 1944 near Ogallala, Nebraska. Vernon continued his studies at the University of Nebraska Medical School, where he trained to become a doctor and graduated in 1953. He completed his internship the next June in preparation for working with Mennonite Brethren missions in Africa. Mildred also pursued medical studies at the University of Colorado.

In 1957, Vernon and Mildred Vogt left their home with their three older children for the Belgian Congo, where they did medical work for four years. Their fourth child, a son, was born during this time. In 1961, they returned to the United States, where they settled in Newton, Kansas. Vernon established a medical practice at the Bethel Clinic in Newton, where he worked for 30 years. Mildred also worked for some time as a professor of anesthesiology and as dean of admissions at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Vogts joined the Koerner Heights Church (Mennonite Brethren), where they were active in a variety of capacities. Vernon worked as an assistant pastor on several occasions, as well as singing in the choir and serving on several boards of the Southern District conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.

In 2003, Mildred and Vernon Vogt’s eldest son, Kenneth, died at the age of 56. Vernon died three years later, on 28 January 2006. Mildred continued to live in Newton, where she was active in the community.

Vernon and Mildred Vogt were dedicated missionaries and church workers who served in many capacities over the years. Through their work and their everyday lives, they were examples of commitment for future generations to follow.

Bibliography

GRANDMA (The Genealogical Registry and Database of Mennonite Ancestry) Database, 7.04 ed. Fresno, CA: " California Mennonite Historical Society, 2013: #259582, #259485.

Missionary Album of Missionaries Serving Under the Board of Foreign Missions, The Mennonite Brethren Conference, Inc. Hillsboro, KS: Board of Foreign Missions of the Conference of Mennonite Brethren Church of North America, 1954.

Obituary. Mennonite Weekly Review 84 (6 February 2006) http://www.mcusa-archives.org/mennobits/Mennonite%20Weekly%20Review/MWR%202006/02-feb%202006.html.

Author(s)	Susan Huebert
Date Published	February 2014

Cite This Article

MLA style

Huebert, Susan. "Vogt, Vernon (1922-2006)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. February 2014. Web. 25 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Vogt,_Vernon_(1922-2006)&oldid=112680.

APA style

Huebert, Susan. (February 2014). Vogt, Vernon (1922-2006). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 25 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Vogt,_Vernon_(1922-2006)&oldid=112680.

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