Abby was born January 10, 1981 in the Phillipsburg, KS hospital, and passed on January 30, 2024 in the Smith County Memorial Hospital, Smith Center, KS. She was baptized in the American Lutheran Church, Smith Center, on February 8, 1981, and confirmed in May of 1995. She spent the majority of her life living in Gaylord, KS. She appreciated the folks and town of her youth and did her best to repay this community while working as a city treasurer and later as city clerk throughout her life.
Abby was ‘big sis’ to her twin sisters Baylee and Catlin, and when disgusted with their antics, she tried her best to ‘give them away.’ Her mother, Barb, would be quickly notified by a close neighbor, Minnie Henning, of Abby’s mission. The three girls played Barbies, baby dolls, games and enjoyed their kitties, Mr. Whiskers and Lady Petunia. Sometimes the chaos of twin sisters led Abby to spend more time with her dad, Dennis, to help irrigate, check cattle, and be ‘a big helper’ with field work. When older, Abby helped her younger sisters as they worked on 4-H projects, competing in floral, gardening, baking, craft and livestock projects.
Abby thoroughly enjoyed learning and appreciated her teachers’ encouragement. All of her teachers helped Abby find various career paths. Abby attended Gaylord Grade School until her sixth-grade year, and then transferred to the Kensington School District. She graduated as a Goldbug on May 5, 1999. From Bob Bearley, she learned : God is Good! From Don Weins, she learned to give her time to helping others, whether in the school, town, or community. From Butch Whelchel, she learned analytical decision making and organizational skills helped, not only at meat’s judging contests, but also in life. Abby graduated from Colby College with a Vet Tech’s degree in 2001. Then she worked as a vet tech in Smith Center, Osborne, and Ellsworth, KS. Later she studied Veterinary Science at KSU, but left to work as a secretary and city clerk. Abby liked the challenge of studying city documents, interpretating ordinances, and completing government regulation forms. She wanted the Gaylord kids to have fond memories of their youth, so she planned a Halloween party which has become a yearly event. This was a dedication to Jeri Brooks, another mentor for Abby. When the city clerk position became part time, she worked for MAP. Later she worked at the Guaranty Bank in Smith Center. Abby found herself among a group of unique individuals who included her as a friend from day one. Their friendship and laughter eased the constant reminder of her ongoing health problems.
Abby married Wil Neussendorfer on October 16, 2010, at the American Lutheran Church. When Wil repeated his vows, ‘in sickness and in health’, he faithfully demonstrated this meaning every day. They, usually, enjoyed working the endless hours when remodeling their home. They enjoyed concerts, traveling the countryside, helping Dennis with farming, and running farm errands. With Wil’s encouragement, Abby started professional machine quilting, and many quilts will carry on in her memory, especially those displaying her free hand quilting of feathers.
In May of 2011, when hospitalized in the Wesley Hospital, she learned of her Renal disease. Here, after the loss of infant son, Montgomery, her life changed forever. In 2013, Abby started dialysis, and when unable to perform dialysis at home, she spent three days a week driving or being driven to Kearney for dialysis. Because of her Vet Tech degree and interest in medicine, she understood her disease and carried through with the doctor’s orders. The disease controlled her life, but she kept a cheerful outlook and did her best to perform her tasks at hand. As she often remarked: I’m taking one for the team.
Abby was brave, and she taught her family the meaning of courage. Few realize the physical pain she suffered; few realize her mental endurance. A day after her passing, we saw a lone robin perched on the tallest branch of our backyard crabapple tree, chirping his spring song melody We interpret this to mean: Abby is in ‘the great beyond,‘ holding her infant son, Montgomery. Now, for Abby, her spiritual eternity is good because God is good.
Left to mourn: Wil Neussendorfer (husband) Gaylord; Barbara and Dennis Lehmann (parents) Gaylord; Baylee (sister) CA; Catlin (sister) and Brian (brother-in-law) Shawnee .
Ken and Susan Neussendorfer (in laws) ND; Megan and Tyler Neussendorfer (step children) ND.
Brock and Ruth Mueller (uncle and aunt) Sylvan Grove; Shay and Shannon (cousins) and their families.
Bill and Sheryl Thorpe (cousins), North Carolina; and son Steve and family.
Daryl and Katherine Lehmann (uncle and aunt) Smith Center; their children TJ, Candy, and Dallas (cousins) and their families.
Dean and Dixie Matson (uncle and aunt) Wichita, and their children Lindsey and Wes (cousins) and their families.
Denton and Kathy Lehmann (uncle and aunt) Smith Center; Scout, Kris and Spenser (cousins) and their families.
Dirk and Roberta Lehmann (uncle and Aunt), Eudora; Dominic, Cecilia, Victoria, Sophia, Olivia, and Derek (cousins) and their families.
Preceding in death: Montgomery Neussendorfer; Raymond and Audrey Mueller; Leland and Vanora Lehmann; Dianne Wahl; Craig Neussendorfer; Allen and Dorothy Olson; Paul and Magdeline Neussendorfer.