Janis Moore Vogel

Janis Moore Vogel was born in Jackson, MI, on June 3, 1944. From the time she was a little child she had a deep love for animals and carried that love throughout her entire life. Jan grew up in a small Michigan farming community.

Her parents were both lifelong Education professionals and Jan followed in their footsteps. Her parents attended a small Methodist Church, and her mom played the church organ while her dad sang in a Gospel quartet. Jan would play piano at the church services, while her mom played the organ. Decades later she could sit down on any piano and play from memory numerous requested Gospel hymns.

Jan was also a good student and education became her passion and later her career. Jan attended schools in Michigan and received a Masters degree from Michigan State University. She later garnered a second Masters degree from Boston University. Jan began her lifelong education career as a High School English teacher in Boston, MA. On a whim, she moved out West to Southern California and continued teaching.

She taught at high schools in San Clemente and later Aliso Niguel. Jan loved her students, and her favorite teaching subject was Creative Writing. She especially enjoyed teaching high school Sophomores. She always said they were mature enough to be young adults and no longer children. But they weren't too old to think they didn't need to study or pay attention to their teacher, as they well knew they still had to graduate from high school.

Jan moved to Calistoga with her husband, Fred, after retiring from her long teaching career. Once in Calistoga, she befriended local attorney Kristen Casey and then committed herself to the care and welfare of stray and feral cat colonies. Jan would also foster cats from animal shelters, and she cared for them as if they were members of her family.

Jan never had children of her own, but she helped raise stepchildren from her marriages.

Jan leaves behind her husband, Fred Vogel; and stepchildren: Tacha Moore, Gena Aytch, Joshua Vogel, Jeremy Vogel, and Jennica Vogel. She also leaves behind one striped shorthair tabby cat, affectionally known as "Cougie."

Jan will be remembered fondly by countless former high school students, her many fellow teachers and of course those animal lovers here in town who knew her.

Please consider leaving a donation on behalf of her legacy at We Care Animal Rescue in St. Helena. The address is 1345 Charter Oak Ave, St Helena, CA, 94574.

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