John S. Vogelgesang of St. Clair, MO passed away Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the age of 81 years.

John graduated from St. Clair High School with the class of 1961.  He started out his career at the Sinclair Station on Main St. before parlaying into a successful businessman in the St. Clair community.  In 1977, John moved to the Mobil station on Hwy 47, before tearing it down in 1989, and rebuilding the Mobil station with a complete tire shop and carwash.  He was a hard worker and a compassionate man who cared about his customers and would not hesitate to give to someone, or charities, in need of help.  He was united in marriage to Ida (Barg) on December 21, 2002, and the couple recently celebrated their 22nd wedding anniversary.

John was a physically active man who enjoyed working out daily and an avid weightlifter.  He liked to tell the story of the blizzard of 1978, where he walked 10 miles in the blizzard conditions to get to work.  He loved fast cars and boating on the Meramec River.  In his early years, John spent many days on Lake St. Clair as a talented water skier.  He had many near-death experiences but survived them all and lived to be a spry 81.

John was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who cared about his children's futures and wanted them to have the best.  He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Luke and Willetta Vogelgesang; and one sister, Charlotte (Virgil) Hagedorn.

He is survived by his wife, Ida Vogelgesang of St. Clair, four children: Jill Brueggemann and husband John of St. Clair, Jeff Vogelgesang and wife Tina of St. Clair, Laurie Walsh and husband John of Washington, and Aaron Sovereign and wife Brenda of Norfolk, NE; three siblings: Leonard Vogelgesang and wife Sheila, Ben Vogelgesang and wife Marty, and Gene Vogelgesang and wife Jan; nine grandchildren: Ashton (Jeremy) Schultz, Brooke Vogelgesang, Paige Vogelgesang, Paiton Vogelgesang, Jaiden Vogelgesang, Brittany Walsh, Trey Walsh, Bryce (Allison) Sovereign, and Alexis Sovereign; two great-grandchildren: Willow and Hudson; and many other relatives and friends.