Abigail Wendland

Abigail "Abby" "Ab-dub" Claire Wendland, 16, of Waseca, died Saturday Oct. 8, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 13th at 2:00 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Waseca with Reverend Roger Haug, officiating. Interment will be in the Woodville Cemetery, Waseca. Abby's homecoming celebration reception will follow at the Waseca High School Commons Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3 to 8 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Waseca.  Abby's life was filled with dance, song and love; friends and family who loved her dearly and a Christian faith that gracefully guided her through her short time on this earth. She was born at Waseca Memorial Hospital on July 8, 1995 in Waseca to Brad and Monica Wendland. From the moment she opened her eyes her family knew she would bring them countless moments of joy and love. A junior at Waseca High School, Abby excelled academically, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She was a member of Frontline in the Marching Band and played in the Concert Band. She challenged herself in both the percussion and horn sections. She sang in the high school choir and State Street Singers. She received numerous honors at solo ensemble competitions in both band and voice. Abby was a dancer and from the age of 3 performed in numerous recitals through Shari's School of Dance. She was recently looking forward to being on the Extreme Dance Team. She was certain to sign up for every style of dance offered. In the sports arena, Abby was a football and basketball cheerleader and a member of the golf team. She served on the Student Council and was looking forward to planning this year's prom. She also competed with the Speech and Law teams.   She loved the theater and played numerous roles in Waseca Community Theater productions. Most recently, she was cast as a Pink Lady for the upcoming high school production of "Grease". Abby was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, where she sang -- oftentimes in duets with her Dad and sister, taught Sunday School and Paid It Forward on mission trips. She enjoyed events with the Third Gear Youth Group at her church. She also was involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes where she mentored younger students as a Huddle Leader.   She enjoyed Girl Scouts for 11 years and earned her Bronze and Silver awards. She was working towards her Gold Award. She loved to read and write, often waiting in line to purchase the latest releases of her favorite authors and crafting poems about those she loved.   Abby loved children. She treasured all those she babysat and smiled whenever she saw them. Anytime there was a baptism at church, she would lean to her Mom and whisper: "I want to hold that baby." Abby is survived by her parents, brother Matthew and sister Olivia, all of Waseca; grandparents Dee and Jerry Appel and Helen Wendland, all of Waseca, and many great-aunts, great-uncles, aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by grandparents, Arnold Harriman, Joan O'Hearn and Ken Wendland. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers gifts to a music scholarship fund that will be established in Abby's memory.