Obituary of Steven George Vogel

On Wednesday, December 7th, 2022, Steve Vogel, loving father of two sons, passed away after many years battling cancer.

Steve Vogel was born and raised in Longview, WA. He played football, basketball, and baseball while at RA Long HS. There was no doubt in anyone's mind who he was when he walked on the football field, track field, or the basketball court that he was a force to be reckoned with. 

He played three years on the football team and was the starting varsity linebacker his junior and senior years; he was a member of the 1967 undefeated R.A. Long football team and as a member of that team was inducted into the Hall of Fame under the team category. Steve was named to the All-Conference team and received the Johnny Hammer Award his senior year. 

He was a starter on the basketball team for three years and in his senior year was voted as the “Most Improved” and “Most Inspirational.” Steve also participated in track and field his senior year as a member of the record setting 1600 relay team. Steve was on the tennis team his sophomore and junior years. 

From R.A. Long HS Steve went on to Grays Harbor Junior College for two years. While playing football there, Grays Harbor won the State Championship. Steve also played basketball one year at Grays Harbor and then transferred to Boise State College.

While at Boise State, Steve started two years as linebacker on the football team and earned the following awards: All Big Sky Football selection, Coaches All American Game selection, NFL Draft selection, and Lifetime Membership BSU Alumni Association. He received his BA in Education in 1973 while at Boise State.  He went on to earn a MA in Education Administration in 1987 from the University of Idaho. 

Steve worked as a football graduate assistant at Boise State in 1972- 1973. He then went to Sunset High School in Beaverton, Oregon to teach and coach, but only stayed one year. Boise was calling him back. Steve’s love for the treasure valley was solidified during his playing days at Boise State.

He was offered a job at Capital HS and worked his entire career there from 1974 to 2005. Steve taught Physical Education and Lifetime sports, and held other roles such as Department Head, Head Baseball, and Asst. Track coach. 

He was best known for his football coaching during his time at Capital High School, where he was the Assistant Coach from 1974-1985 and the head Football coach from 1986-2003. During this time, he was named six-time 3rd District Coach of the Year and one time Idaho State Coach of the year, received Lifetime 3rd District Coaches Membership, was inducted into Capital High School Coaches Hall of Fame, became a Idaho representative to NFL Youth Summit, and Coaches Rep to the Football Officials Review Board.

Steve will be remembered as a caring and motivational coach who was a “Gurkha” till the end. He loved being out and about visiting friends daily. He seemed to always run into someone he knew wherever he went. He always had a joke, story, or a kind word to say.  

Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Christine and father, Merlin and survived by his sister, Kim Hampton; niece, Erika Geiszler; son, Tyson Vogel; son Kyle Vogel and daughter-in-law, Kari Vogel; grandchildren: Taylor, Jaxzon, and Kamden Vogel, and partner and dear friend Sandy Riley.

A public Celebration of Life will be held at Capital High School auditorium on Wednesday, Dec. 21st from

6-9pm, with program starting at 6:30 pm.  The family invites to you make a donation to a scholarship fund that will be set up in his honor, in place of sending flowers.