Phyllis Elizabeth Vogel

Phyllis Elizabeth Vogel (Honken), age 82, peacefully passed away on August 8, 2026, with her loving husband beside her. Born on June 6, 1944, in St. Peter, Minnesota, Phyllis was the second of nine children of Harold and Lorraine (Ellingson) Honken. She grew up on the family farm outside Nicollet on the shores of Swan Lake, where her "tomboy" nature flourished-she much preferred riding cows and horses to doing her housekeeping chores.

Active in 4‑H, Phyllis proudly showed Jersey cows and was named both a Dairy Princess and Jersey Queen. Her lifelong passion for horses guided much of her youth, especially training and showing Pony of America horses, including the stallion she adored, "Dangerous Dan."

Phyllis attended Nicollet Public Schools and Minnesota State University-Mankato. On October 1, 1966, she married the love of her life, Howard William Vogel, in St. Peter. They built a rich life together on the Vogel farm, raising three children-Lisa, Jason, and Nathan-and sharing Phyllis's deep love of horses with family across generations.

Phyllis worked in several roles throughout her career, most notably over twenty years at the St. Peter Regional Treatment Center, where she earned profound respect. One former supervisor fondly remembered her as the hardest‑working person she had ever known.

Creative, kind, and endlessly generous, Phyllis cherished painting and crafting personalized greeting cards, sending out hundreds each year. She was known for her friendly smile, her love of good conversation over coffee, and her unwavering care for others. Her grandchildren treasured time spent with her on the farm-exploring the crick, riding horses, and sharing adventures. Fun-loving all her life, Phyllis enjoyed polka dancing and was always quick to laugh.

Phyllis is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Howard Vogel; daughter Lisa Klotzbach (Ken); sons Jason Vogel (Iris) and Nathan Vogel; grandchildren Cooper, Madeline, and Colby Klotzbach; and her beloved pup, Tucker. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Lorraine Honken.

Mass of Christian Memorial will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 9, 2026 at Catholic Church of St. Peter. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in Phyllis's name.