Served the people of God for 22 years
HENDERSONVILLE — Deacon Richard “Rich” G. Voegele, 79, passed away Monday, July 5, 2021, at The Elizabeth House Hospice Care in the Asheville area.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Friday, July 9, 2021, at St. Barnabas Church (located at 109 Crescent Hill Dr. in Arden) with Father Adrian Porras, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hendersonville. Prior to the funeral Mass, the family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, July 9, at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian, located at 72 Long Shoals Road in Arden.
A native of Glendale, N.Y., he was born Aug. 9, 1941, the son of the late Rudolph and Anna Langhans Voegele.
His career included 16 years as an avionics supervisor. Later, he felt drawn to full-time study for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He then devoted his time and energy as a social worker helping those with special needs.
Soon after, his pastor encouraged him to study for the diaconate. He was ordained on May 22, 1999, for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., by Bishop John R. McGann. Deacon Voegele’s first assignment was at St. Rosalie Parish in Hampton Bays, N.Y., where he served for 18 years. In 2004, he was also granted faculties for the Diocese of Palm Beach, Fla., where he served as a seasonal deacon for St. Sebastian Parish. Upon moving to Arden, he was granted faculties and assigned to St. Lawrence Basilica in Asheville effective March 19, 2007. When he relocated to Hendersonville six years later, Deacon Voegele was assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish in Hendersonville on Aug. 1, 2013. On July 2, 2015, he was granted retirement while maintaining all faculties.
During his 22 years of service to the people of God, Deacon Richard and his wife Regina were active participants in parish activities and in outreach into the communities in which they lived.
His was truly a life of following the Spirit of God.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Regina Wieman Voegele; one sister, Maryann Stack of Phoenix, Ariz.; and several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials contributions be made to Hendersonville Rescue Mission, online at www.hendersonvillerescuemission.com.
Groce Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald