Thea Stephanie Vodegel (Sante)

Thea Stephanie Vodegel (Santé)

Thea Stephanie Vodegel passed away peacefully on October 2, 2024. Thea was born in the city of Watampone on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia on May 5, 1929. Thea was the sixth of seven children born to Pierre Theodore Santé and Emma Vos. As a young girl, Thea and her family endured the Japanese occupation of Indonesia during WWII. In this period of violence, disease, and hardship, many did not survive, including two of Thea’s sisters. After her year-long battle with typhoid, Thea recovered and relocated to the Netherlands. There, she was reunited with the love of her life, Richard Desiré Dieudonne Vodegel. They married on May 12, 1956. 

In 1957, Thea and Richard immigrated to the United States, so Richard could pursue his dream of becoming a medical doctor. They returned to the Netherlands briefly, where their first son, Edward, was born in 1958. They immigrated permanently to the United States in 1959 and later became American citizens. They lived in various cities across the Midwest before settling in Mequon, WI. They continued to grow their family, adding a son Christian, a daughter Richelle, and another son Stephan.

Together, Thea and Richard had many friends and loved to travel, visiting the far reaches of the world - everywhere from the Amazon rainforest, the villages of Papua New Guinea, and 1980’s Russia. As a result of her multicultural upbringing and global travel, Thea proudly spoke four languages. Her unmistakable charm and open heart led her to make friends across the globe. 

In 1998, Thea and Richard retired to Sun Lakes, AZ. Sadly, Richard passed away in 2010.

Thea leaves behind four children, Edward Vodegel (Beverly), Christian Vodegel, Richelle Verret (John), and Stephan Vodegel. Thea was a loving grandmother to six grandchildren, Emma, Olivia, Gabrielle, Brett, April (Steve), and Andrea. She was a great-grandmother to Jessica, Victoria, Ava, Kyleigh (Jake) and Walker as well as a great-great grandmother to Sophia and Ella Jane.

We will miss her humor, joyful spirit, and genuine care for others. We will love her always. Thea’s family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Red Cross.