John Robert Mogel

John Robert Mogel, 81, of Stagecoach Road, North Attleboro, died peacefully on Sunday, January 15, 2012 at the Life Care Center of Attleboro. He was the beloved husband of Sonja H. (Hawkinson) Mogel to whom he was married on December 3, 1955. Born in Providence, Rhode Island on August 8, 1930, he was a son of the late Robert J. and Ada J. (Fanning) Mogel. He was raised and educated in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. For many years, Mr. Mogel resided with his mother and grandfather, Joe. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served during the Korean War era from 1951 1953. He moved to Massachusetts from Rhode Island in 1960 and settled in Attleboro and South Attleboro where he lived until moving to North Attleboro in 1971. Mr. Mogel was a sports enthusiast and enjoyed playing football, fishing and roller-skating having once been a professional roller skater. In 1955 he met his wife, Sonja and they were married. John and Sonja had no children but treasured spending all of their time together as they planned for their future. Mr. Mogel dreamed of becoming a builder and he worked diligently building one house at a time including all of his homes in the Attleboro area. In 1959, Mr. Mogel founded Mogel Builders and remained the owner and operator of the company until his retirement in 1980. A lifelong lover of animals, he enjoyed feeding the birds each day and made sure that the squirrels were fed, too. He enjoyed the companionship of three dogs since his marriage and treated Lady, Penny and Sadie as part of the family. Mr. Mogel will be lovingly remembered for his ability to make people laugh and for being a creative person. A man of constant new ideas, he enjoyed working with his hands and making crafts. An ardent fisherman, he enjoyed the times spent fishing at Lincoln Woods and would often make it a day event including a picnic. He and his wife went ballroom dancing at Crescent Park and Rhodes on the Pawtuxet and would enjoy roller skating during the week. Later, Mr. Mogel and his wife were introduced to square dancing and only after being strongly persuaded was he willing to try this new activity. Although not interested at all in the beginning, square dancing changed his life. He met many new friends and traveled to Bermuda, Baltimore, Maryland, New York and all of the New England states to square dance. He and his wife were callers for the Funtimers Square Dance Club in North Attleboro. Mr. Mogel referred to club members as his square dance family. Since beginning square and round dancing in 1961, Mr. and Mrs. Mogel danced and called in all of the New England states, New York and Maryland but spent most of the time in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. One of Mr. Mogels happiest and proudest moments was when he and his wife become Godparents to Timothy Le, now age 5, of North Attleboro and the entire Le Family Thoi, Twan, Teresa and Thomas Le, all of North Attleboro. With endless appreciation, the Mogel family acknowledges with gratitude the entire staff of the Life Care Center of Attleboro for their tireless devotion to his care. In addition to his wife of 56 years and the Le family, Mr. Mogel leaves a cousin: Doris Cunnie Brown of Hallandale, Florida; his wifes aunt: Harriet V. (Johnson) Brown of Warwick, Rhode Island; several cousins and extended members of his family and his wifes family and countless dear friends. Family and friends are cordially invited to attend visitation on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 6:00 8:00 PM in the Memorial Chapel of Dyer-Lake Funeral Home the national historic Colonel Obed Robinson Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right at end of ramp, mile on left), Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. Those in need of a ride to visitation may call the funeral home at (508) 695-0200 to make an advance reservation for such gratis transportation. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend the Funeral Service on Friday, January 20, 2012 at 10:00 AM in the Memorial Chapel of Dyer-Lake Funeral Home the national historic Colonel Obed Robinson Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue (exit 5 off I-95 N or S, go right at end of ramp, mile on left), Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro with the Rev. Kelly Thibeault, Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Old Post Road, North Attleboro, officiating. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery and Arboretum, North Attleboro. Childrens room available during visitation and the funeral service. Following cemetery services an invitation will be extended to join the family for a time of continued fellowship and refreshments at a location to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community VNA, 10 Emory Street, Attleboro, MA 02703 or to Hasbro Childrens Hospital, PO Box H, Providence, Rhode Island 02901. To send the family an expression of sympathy, please visit an online register book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200.