This Just In ...

Do you know someone who is dying?

Posted by Kevin Fischer on July 17, 2009

Over the past year to year-and-a-half, I have known about a dozen relatives, friends and acquaintances that have passed away. Most of them knew their time was coming to an end. Given the hand they were dealt, they could have spent their final days, weeks, or months feeling bitter, angry, confused, and frustrated. Instead, each and every one chose, with dignity, grace, and even style to use their last days productively.

One of those inspirational individuals was 28-year old Angie Wenzel. Angie had it all: a great husband, family, friends, career, wonderful promise, hopes and dreams, her youth. And then it all came crashing down when she was diagnosed a rare and one of the worst forms of breast cancer. Angie fought valiantly, but her incredible bravery and courage were no match. She died earlier this year.

If you read the blogs I’ve linked to, you learn that after her diagnosis, she wanted to tell her story via blogs to others to not only inform, but assure them they were not alone. Angie suffered daily and endured one medical appointment and treatment after another to try to alleviate symptoms and ailments too numerous to count. Through it all, she never lost her sprit, her smile, her fight.

I wish you could have met, Angie. It would be impossible to have known her and not be impressed with how she conducted herself. She never changed, refusing to let evil cancer dampen her enthusiasm even as she probably realized deep in her struggling heart that she was going to die. Angie could very easily have given up, but she chose a different approach, the positive use of her time to try to help others.

Angie’s gone, however her mission and those she left behind desperately need your help. Please read and consider this important message from her husband, Morgan Wenzel:

Greetings,

In June of 2008, the love of my life Angle Blondell Wenzel was diagnosed at the age of 28 with a rare disease, Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). In just a short time, it spread throughout her body, robbing her from fulfilling many of her life dreams. Before losing this battle, Angie with her irrepressible beaming smile asked that everything she had gone though not be in vain. Prior to the end of her battle on March 18^th, 2009, she asked that a scholarship fund be set up in her honor at her alma mater Carroll University and to raise funds to support further research on this aggressive form of cancer.

To honor her request, my friends and I are organizing a golf outing in an attempt to raise money for both the scholarship fund and research support. Unfortunately, this cannot be accomplished with a small circle of friends; we need help. Willow Run Golf Club in Waukesha has agreed to allow our fundraiser to take place at their facility on Saturday, August 22, 2009.

Because our goal is to raise money we are asking for donations for raffle prizes, hole sponsors, or simple financial assistance to make this a success. Fundraisers such as ours can only be successful with help from organizations like yours and people like you. In return for your generosity, your name will be proudly displayed on a banner during the golf outing.

When Angie was diagnosed with IBC, never in my wildest dreams did I think that my wife and best friend would be taken from me so soon. With the money raised from this event, our hopes are two fold; first, support research to find a cure and treatments for others that are afflicted with IBC and second, to provide assistance with an education endeavor of others that may be able to help in the cause.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely, 

Morgan Wenzel
(414) 943-2517


The 2nd Annual Angie Wenzel Scramble will be held on Saturday, Aug 22 at Willow Run Golf Club in Waukesha.  It will be a scramble format with a shotgun start beginning at 8am.  The cost will be $65 per person which will include 18 holes w/cart, use of the range, food, prizes on certain holes (i.e. longest drive, closest to the pin, and longest putt).

If you would like more information, you may contact Morgan Wenzel at the above phone number. You also may e-mail me at thisjustin@wi.rr.com. I can send you a flyer and a donation letter with more information on the event. All entries must be received by Saturday, Aug 15th.  

Again, please consider whatever you can for this wonderful cause.

Thank you very much.