After nearly 95 years of charm, humor, good will, resilience, compassion, faithfulness - and a tad bit of stubbornness - "Al" Voegele has left this earthly existence to be with his wonderful wife Viola, who departed 7 years earlier. They are now enjoying their 70th year of loving spiritual union, together in Heaven.

Albin passed away on March 12, 2017, at the Sebastian Medical Center, in Sebastian FL. He leaves behind his loving sons Gary Voegele (Camp Hill, PA), David Voegele-Albin (and his wife Lois Bowman, both of Milton VT), and Jeff Voegele (Sebastian FL). In addition, he will be enormously missed by his 4 grandchildren - Lee Voegele (Camp Hill, PA), Sandra Shaefer (and her husband Chris, both of Canastota NY), Henry ("Hank") Albin (Turners Falls, MA), and Elinor "Ej" Albin (Cambridge, MA), and two great-children Christian and Sarah Shaefer, as well as nearly 100 nieces, nephews, & cousins.

Al Voegele was born on October 1, 1922 in Danbury CT, to Charles H. Voegele and Alice M. Voegele. As an only child, he grew up in an exceedingly warm and nurturing household, adored by parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. His neighborhood school on Lincoln Avenue was less than a 2-minute walk away, and Albin often recounted in later years that he had an idyllic childhood. He played baseball, football, and basketball with neighborhood friends, was a youth leader in the Danbury Universalist Church, and participated in the Danbury Drum Corps. In winters he would sled down the hill into the frozen cow pasture across the street, and in evenings would listen to country music on the radio.

W. Albin Voegele served as a corporal in the US Army during WWII, but always downplayed his role as a munitions specialist. Yet he was at the Battle of the Bulge, making sure those in the midst of the fighting had the weapons and ammunition they needed. He loved to tell the story about his "crazy colonel" who insisted the soldiers assigned to Corporal Voegele always be busy between the battles - including the time he instructed Albin that his men should "rake the leaves" in the forest, despite it being a rather large forest and there being no rakes.

After the war Al married the love of his life, Viola Wilson, and earned a business degree at Becker College in Worcester. After a devastating illness in his mid-twenties, Albin shocked the doctors (who had declared he had only 6 months to live), by surviving, and then by learning to walk and play sports again. He and Viola raised 3 rambunctious boys together, and made sure they gave each son focused attention on their diverse interests (horses, sports, acting). He and Viola were active members of several Christian groups, including the Newbury Church in Brookfield, the Businessmen's Full Gospel Group, and Grace n Vessels Ministry in Danbury.

Albin retired after 20 years as the Comptroller at the News Times in Danbury. He and Viola moved to Florida where they spent nearly 25 blissful years together (with the exception of the time their house blew away during one of the 2006 hurricanes). After Viola's passing in 2010, Al spent about 6 months each year with his son Jeff in FL, and 6 months with son David in MA (and then NY state). In 2011 he received a special Commission from the Governor of MA to officiate at the wedding of David and his bride Lois. He also became a valued volunteer at DIAL/SELF Youth and Community Services in Greenfield, and in 2003 became the first (and only) participant in the annual Badminton Bash to break his hip while diving for the birdie (at age 80), resulting in a lifetime ban from the Bash.

Al was a lifelong sports enthusiast, rooting for both the NY GIANTS and Boston RED SOX - when they were winning. He also was a determined golfer always seeking the ever-elusive perfect swing. When he was no long able to make the long drives at the age of 90, he invented Chip-it, a modified form of golf that he played in the yard every day he could, until the day before he died. Al enjoyed brainy board games, particularly CORX, for which he was the winner of the 2009 Greenfield CORX Championship. He also thoroughly enjoyed beating his grandchildren at chess. His reputation as a story-teller and entertainer was only enhanced by his 93rd birthday celebration attended by immediate family members, in which he sang, danced, recited poetry, told stories, and performed magic tricks for the amazement of all.

William A. Voegele was a unique personality and wonderful person, loved greatly by his wife, 3 sons, 4 daughters-in-law (including Gary's predeceased wife Nancy), 4 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, & countless nieces, nephews, co-workers, friends, & neighbors. He truly will be missed by all.

A memorial service for Albin, originally planned for 3/18 in Danbury CT, has been postponed until later in the spring.