Donna Mae (Rockswold) Vogel

Donna Mae Rockswold Vogel was born on January 21,1932 in Litchville, North Dakota to Albert Henry Rockswold and Clara Elton Rockswold. She died on April 30, 2023 in Salt Lake City at the age of 91 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

Donna wed William Vogel on June 12, 1955 and they had four children: Ann (Keith Palmer) of Bremerton, WA; Susan of Salt Lake City; John (Kathy) of Sunriver, OR; and Sarah (Adam Isidore) of Montclair, NJ. She also is survived by seven grandchildren (Ana, Andrew, Daniel, Sophia, Robert, Grace, and Charlotte). Her parents and brothers Elton and Vernon predeceased her.

Donna worked as a Registered Nurse in Evanston, IL and Ann Arbor, MI, before putting her career on hold to raise her children. She earned her BSN and MSN at the University of Utah in the late 1970s and worked at Intermountain Healthcare’s LDS Hospital as Director of Nurse Recruitment and Retention for IHC’s Utah hospitals until 1995 when she retired to travel the world with Bill.

Donna served as president of the national professional organization for nurse recruiters; was active in the League of Women Voters; liked swimming and attending theater, opera, and the symphony; hosted dozens of international guests through the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy; and was an activist in supporting women’s rights, the Equal Rights Amendment, reproductive rights, the LGBTQ community, and scholarships to make nursing education more accessible. Also she earned a Master Gardener certification.

She was a longtime member of Christ United Methodist Church. A summertime celebration of life is pending. Donna asked that any memorial donations be made to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (Oregon Chapter), Wesley Bell Ringers Scholarship Fund or the Permanent Endowment Fund at Christ United Methodist Church, nursing scholarships at the U of U or Westminster College, or scholarships at the SLC Jewish Community Center Early Childhood Center.

Look for a bright new star in the sky.