David Lee “Abby” Abendroth
Lansing, MI
Born February 18, 1943 in Yuma, Arizona passed away Friday, November 8, 2024 at the age of 81.
Surviving are his daughter, Jodi (Deryck) Jones; their children, Nikole (James) Barker, Tanner (Emma Hickey) Jones, Gabrielle (Zachary Paye) Jones, and their grandchildren, Ryleigh and Luke Barker. Also surviving are his son, Joel (Dorinda) Abendroth; their children, Anne Abendroth, Claire (Matt) Lash, and Emma (Anthony) Rendi; their grandson Jack Lash, and a host of friends. He never met anyone he didn’t like, and in turn, didn’t like him back!
Abby was preceded in death by his wife, Linda McCullough-Abendroth; his parents, Richard and Brooksie Abendroth; his brother, Roland Abendroth; and his biological father, David Gist of Phoenix, AZ.
Abby was a graduate of Haslett High School Class of 1960. Immediately following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served overseas as an Air Traffic Controller. He was honorably discharged in 1964. He served as a Paramedic and Firefighter for the Lansing Fire Department for many years retiring in 1991 with a rank of Captain. Abby enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, and was a very talented artist.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 15, 2024 at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel; Military Honors will follow. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for 1 hour prior to the service.
Those who wish may make memorial contributions, in loving memory of Abby, to John Ganton’s Countryside, 2140 Robinson Rd., Jackson, MI 49203 – Attn: Grand Activities.
10 Messages to “David Lee “Abby” Abendroth”
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Jan
November 9, 2024 at 2:28 pmJodi I’m so very sorry for your loss. Keep all your memories close at heart. Thoughts and prayers to your family. Love you.
Marshall Hudson
November 9, 2024 at 8:44 pmI loved working with Abby. I learned so much from him riding on the ambulance together. My condolences to his family
Diane Ziegler Hudson
November 9, 2024 at 10:18 pmI went to Haslett and graduated with Dave, our class was small and close. He could always make me laugh. I then was going down a street in Charlotte, MI and there was Dave sitting on the stoop of this lovely Victorian house. I’m so sorry for the whole family. Dave was an exceptional person,
Diane Ziegler Hudson
Mike Soboleski
November 10, 2024 at 11:24 amJoel,
Very sorry to hear about the loss to your family.
Please know we will be thinking of you and your family. I remember him coming out to LC years ago.
Marvin Helmker
November 10, 2024 at 3:14 pmAbby was one of the original paramedics in the Lansing area. As a young firefighter in the early 1980s at the Lansing Fire Dept., I worked with him frequently. My best memories of Abby are that he was a great mentor and teacher in the fire station. On emergency scenes, he was calm and level-headed when things were often in a state of chaos. My condolences to Abby’s family.
Marv Helmker
LFD (ret)
Rick Houghton
November 10, 2024 at 7:45 pmAbby’s artistic influence appeared to me before I met him. In 1981, the first time I worked at Station 5, I appreciated the forested mural he had wallpapered in the day room of what otherwise would have been a very bleak and institutional 1950s block building. Abby was not only calm and unflappable, but he looked through a wide lens to maintain his perspective as life swirled about him. An artist indeed.
Clyde Smith (LPD 1976 to 2001)
November 15, 2024 at 10:35 amAbby was a Great, Humorous, professional ParaMedic that I was very impressed to work with on numerous scenes when I was a young Policeman on LPD in the 70’s and wasn’t surprised that these Firefighters and Medics didn’t shy away from anything. Some of these LFD guys (Abby) even had their own pistols for protection and didn’t wait to enter an active scene where an assault had occurred. These days Medics await for Police to arrive, not Abby and the Boys back then. RIP Brother. My condolences to the family.
April
November 15, 2024 at 5:26 pmI love you Uncle Dave. I’ll never forget all of the great times we had hanging out together with Aunt Linda Up North. Fly high!
Love,
April
Dan Troy
November 16, 2024 at 8:28 pmAbby, you were one of a kind. Dedicated to your craft, friends and LFD. You always reminded me of Jimmy Buffet with an ambulance hang-up. You will be missed my friend. RiP
Tim E. Poxson
November 18, 2024 at 11:13 amI was on LPD and spent time with him at #5 on Todd Street. He was a great guy and I would always feel he had things under control when he arrived on a location were his services were needed. He will be missed but always remembered.