Vogel (nee Africano) joined her beloved husband, the late Donald Barry Vogel in the next great adventure on January 17, 2024 after a courageous battle with dementia. In addition to her husband, she was proceeded in death by her mother, Margaret Mazzola (Lutrario); stepfather, Joseph Mazzola; and father Jerry Africano. She is survived by her daughters Anna Vogel Purnell (Greg Smith), Marion Titze, and Jessica Vogel; her sister Dora Huber (John); grandchildren John Purnell, Jr., Sam Purnell, and David Yahola; and a host of loving and wonderful cousins, nieces and nephews, and dear, lifelong friends.

She was a passionate, hilarious, driven, joyful, caring, generous, creative, thoughtful, delightful person, deeply proud of her Italian roots and the strong, determined women of her family who were her role models and inspirations throughout her life. In common with Donald, Gerry loved music, art, literature, poetry, dance, film, comedy, and drama. The two of them were huge opera fans; and, even during Gerry's decline, they took great pleasure in listening to and watching opera performances. There was opera music playing when she passed.

Gerry and Donald enjoyed a rich and active social life, including traveling together and with friends, sailing, and hosting excellent dinner parties. They were founding members of the Lakeside Players, a play-reading group that met every few months for over twenty-five years.

Gerry grew up in Rochester, New York where she graduated from high school at 16 and received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Nazareth University in that city. Prompted by friends, she decided to join the US Army as a second lieutenant and was stationed at the former Fort Ord Army Base in California. There she met the love of her life, Donald. She outranked him but that didn't dissuade either of them from pursing an extraordinary love that lasted more than 60 years.

After the army, they went to Iowa where Donald received his PhD in Political Science while Gerry worked and the VA Hospital in Des Moines. Gerry and Donald moved to Milwaukee when Donald began his professional career at the University of Milwaukee as a Professor of Political Science.

Gerry earned her Masters in Nursing (MSN) with a concentration in nursing administration. She worked in a variety of nursing and nursing-administrative roles at St. Luke's Hospital and Columbia Hospital in the Milwaukee area. She joined St. Mary's Milwaukee as founding Director of the Nurse Internship Program and, later, assistant director of nursing. Subsequently, Gerry served clinical supervisor and assistant director of continuing education in nursing at Marquette. At Marquette, she was lead faculty for the 120 hour "Certificate in Nursing Management" program which enrolled over 200 Wisconsin nurse managers over the years.

She was a pioneer nurse entrepreneur – believing nurses have to be in power positions to effect change. She co-authored the book, Entrepreneuring: A Nurse's Guide to Starting a Business with Nancy Doleysh. Gerry was a leader in the Wisconsin League for Nursing, and also served as the President of the Wisconsin Nursing Association.

The family would like to extend its most heartfelt gratitude to the amazing care providers at Harbor House Memory Care, with Restorative Home Care, and Allay Hospice. It did, does, and always will mean the world to her family to know Gerry was surrounded by love, kindness, humor, and tenderness during the last and most difficult years of her life.

A celebration of life is being planned for the spring. Please reach out to the family for more information. Donations in Gerry's name are welcome to the Skylight Opera Company, Museum of Wisconsin Art, Wisconsin Nurses Association, or Riverwest Food Pantry.

Gerry and Donald lived a life brimming with joy, wonder, passion, humor, and intellectual curiosity expressed in everything they did and all they shared with their many, many friends in the Milwaukee area and far beyond. Each home they lived in over the course of their married life was replete with art, music, great food, laughter, conversation, friendship, and love. No one could have asked for more outstanding, interesting, supportive parents or friends. Individually and together, their memories are indeed a blessing.