Directors of the Chippiannock Cemetery in Rock Island didn't have to look far for their next superintendent. This month, Jared Vogele took over from his father Greg, and became the fourth generation of his family to hold the job.
In between childhood and becoming superintendent, he earned a degree in mortuary science and worked as an embalmer and funeral director in Moline, Schaumberg, and Norridge, Illinois, and managed the Hodgson Funeral home in Rock Island for ten years.
"With dad running the cemetery for all the years and I grew up here. And I think it just came naturally - I grew to care about the place."
The first member of the family to run Chippiannock Cemetery was Ferdinand Vogele who took charge in 1922. His son Joseph replaced him in 1938, then turned it over to his son Greg Vogele in 1977.
Greg will continue as executive director of the Chippiannock Cemetery Heritage Foundation.
The cemetery was founded in 1855, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
