Nathan Vogelsang: True Acts of Selflessness

(MILAN, Ind.) – The truest form of selflessness is performing acts of kindness without ever expecting any special attention or personal gain. 

Prior to last week, the following acts of kindness by 24-year-old Nathan Vogelsang would have only been known by a few close friends. 

Money wasn’t the most important thing to the 2019 Milan graduate. However, earning money was a way to help others who were in need. 

Nathan had a CashApp and his mother began noticing that there would be withdrawals, sometimes of $30 or $100 for no reason. 

She once confronted Nathan about the money that had been disappearing and he responded, “Well, mom there are people that need help.”

It was later revealed that Nate would often help friends who needed gas money or fell behind on a bill. He never expected anything in return or to be paid back.

The Day Nathan Wasn’t Where He Said He Was: 

Nathan told his parents, Cheryl and Michael, that he was going to the movies with his best friend, Ethan. 

Several hours went by and his parentsl began getting nervous that he hadn’t returned home. 

She had no luck getting him to answer his phone and decided to call Ethan. 

It was news to Ethan that he was supposed to be at the movies with Nathan that night. 

They began frantically trying to figure out where Nathan was, and even contacted police. 

A relative used SnapChat to find Nate’s location, and it showed that he was in Avon, Indiana. 

Why was he in Avon? 

Nathan had been in contact on social media with a person that was contemplating suicide. He was trying to help that person through online messaging but wasn’t having any luck. 

He decided the only way to help this stranger was to drive to their home for a face-to-face meeting. 

That trip to Avon provided the help that person needed, and likely prevented a suicide. All because of Nathan and his selfless act. 

Bridge of Hope pastor Doug Norman acts like this exemplify who Nathan was as a person. . 

“He comes from a very close-knit family, and his acts of kindness go in line with how compassionate that family is. They are very kind people and his selflessness is also a reflection of his upbringing,” Norman said. 

A Big Brother 

Nathan was a Milan soccer player and had plenty of things to do with friends while he was in high school. 

However, he was committed to being a good sibling to his special needs brother. 

He would participate in Special Olympic events with his brother, David, and was considered the go-to guy to take care of him when David’s dad was working. 

“I never once had a worry about him taking care of David, I knew he was always in good hands if Nate was there,” David’s dad, Tim Paul said. 

A Friend 

Lauren McNeely will never forget Nate’s humor, sarcasm and most certainly, his support. 

“There were times he would make me laugh so hard I’d be either wet my pants, be wheezing, crying from laughing or all the above,” McNeely recalls. “There were also times he would pick me up, just for me to get out of the house, get something to eat and just talk.”

It was his empathy and understanding that Lauren also remembers. 

He was honest even when she didn’t want to hear it. “I became grateful for that because he was always right,” she added. 

Lauren says she will never have a friend like him and that is ok, “because that will forever be Nate’s spot.” 

Our thoughts and prayers are with Nate’s family and friends are honored to share a few stories from a life that incredibly lived.