BUTLER TWP — For more than 20 years, Joni Vogel was the backbone of the Butler Football Hometown Heroes program.

In a sense, she died a hero herself.

Vogel served as treasurer of the Butler Football Mothers Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 249 Auxiliary. She joined her husband, Kevin, as co-president of the newly formed Butler Football Boosters when the Mothers Club and Butler Quarterback Club merged.

And she was co-founder of the Butler Football Hometown Heroes when that organization — designed to recognize and honor former Butler football greats and others who contributed selflessly to Golden Tornado football — was founded in 2004.

That organization quickly became her passion. She served the committee as planner, organizer and headed fundraising efforts.

Diagnosed with ALS in December of 2023, Vogel continued to serve as anchor of the BFHH until her death last weekend at age 68.

While her illness was weakening her physical body, Vogel’s will to remain an asset to the community only grew stronger.

“We thought about dropping out of the program three years ago,” her husband, also an original BFHH Committee member, said. “Joni didn’t want to be a hindrance to anyone. But she wasn’t one to be a boo-hooer, to retreat into a shell. She was gonna fight and live her life to the fullest right up to the last minute.

“The Hometown Heroes gave her a sense of purpose. It helped keep her going,” Kevin Vogel said.

Each football season, BFHH honors its inductee before a Butler home game. It also honors the military by inviting active and past service members to attend. Golden Tornado football players wear special camo jerseys the night of that game.

“Joni got the military thing rolling,” BFHH committee member Ralph McElhaney said. “It was her idea for us to buy the camo jerseys and have the school keep them to distribute each year.

“Those camo jerseys are part of Joni’s legacy.”

“Those jerseys are her signature for this club,” Kevin Vogel agreed.

A Seneca Valley graduate, Joni was a Raider football season ticket holder. Her uncle was Dick Dilts, a legendary Kiski Area coach who “was to Kiski what (longtime Butler football coach) Art Bernardi was to Butler,” Kevin Vogel said.

“When her kids came up through Butler football, the Midget program and every step of the way, we got involved … we converted her,” Vogel said, laughing. “Then the grandsons played as well.”

Then Butler head football coach Garry Cathell and then-assistant coach McElhaney came up with the idea of forming the Butler Football Hometown Heroes organization.

“We couldn’t donate too much time to it because we were coaching,” Cathell said. “But I knew two people who could take off and run with it — Kevin and Joni Vogel. That program has since honored countless people over the years and I’m not surprised.

“Joni Vogel was a wonderful person. always willing to help, always willing to give. She had two sons in the football program, but you’d never know it. She cared about all of those kids as if they were her own. The way she cared about people touched everyone she knew.”

Those feelings are shared by many.

“I admire her a ton,” Butler football coach Eric Christy said. “She was always so positive. That smile on her face could light up a room. I mean, she was like, ‘whatever you need, coach, we’ll get it done.’ She was amazing … so dedicated, so driven.”

“Supportive, dedicated, helpful … that was Joni,” BFHH committee member Sue Christy said. “She never let her disability bring her down. She was going to do this until she stopped breathing.

“An angel in disguise. That’s what she was.”

When Joni’s physical limits prevented her from duties such as typing and putting worksheets together, she handed such chores off to fellow committee member Jeanine Galante.

“I know it was difficult for her to give up control of that stuff. She had such pride in it,” Galante said. “But she was so gracious and helpful to me. The transition was important to her and I always appreciated that.

“Joni always put on the bravest face. She was a constant fighter. I was amazed by her spirit to keep going. I admired her strength and courage.”

McElhaney said Joni inspired him — twice.

“The first time was by how giving and unselfish a person she was,” he said. “Then, the way she battled ALS while staying pretty efficient as an organizer and effective member of our committee, she inspired me again.

“Joni taught me a lot about life. I know she changed the way I live mine.”