Brookfield Central Senior Touched Many Lives

A carefree, compassionate, plucky “tomboy in ribbons and bows” hid an inner sadness from loved ones, yet touched so many lives, a pastor told more than 1,000 people who gathered Saturday for Lindsay Huenink’s memorial services.

The 800-seat worship center at was so packed that extra chairs were carried into the back of the church, and the line to enter snaked down and around a long corridor to the church’s kitchen area. Overflow cars had to park on the grass, after the large parking lots for the church and adjacent Brookfield Christian School were full.

“We are so grateful for the love that you have poured out for this family,” Pastor Peter Verhulst said. “She (Lindsay) touched so many lives. We are grateful for her.”

Huenink, 18, a Brookfield Central High School senior, died early Wednesday near Fox Brook Park, not far from her home. Police said it was not suspicious or accidental.

“Sometimes when someone takes their own life, we feel like we really didn’t know this person,” the pastor said. “Well, let me assure you, we knew her. We perhaps didn’t know the sadness she was feeling. But that doesn’t change who Lindsay really was.”

Verhulst and Huenink’s brother, Ryan, said Huenink was so many things to so many people. She was a loving daughter, sister, cousin and niece. A playful friend. A student athlete. A camp counselor. A restaurant worker. An honor roll member.

She was one of four seniors on Brookfield Central’s student council, played on the Lancer’s varsity girls basketball team her junior year and was a member of club soccer teams since childhood. Before Central High, she attended Brookfield Christian School. 

Huenink’s spunkiness was evident even in her youngest years, her brother said. Like when she would visit a farm wearing a dress and pink bow and scare the kittens by scooping them up and carrying them in the folds of her skirt.

And when she was 2 years old at her first swimming lessons, Verhulst said, and as the instructor coaxed children to stick their toes in the water, Huenink “stood up and she shouted, ‘Cannonball!’” before jumping in.

“She was always so carefree and we loved that about her,” her brother said. “She was always such a little sweetheart.”

Verhulst said Huenink loved to sing and made colorful CDs for her friends and homemade gifts for her teachers.  She counseled younger children at a camp and was the “competitive cousin,” except when it came to Catch Phrase, a game that wasn’t her strong suit.

She had a contagious laugh and a beautiful smile. She often would insist while driving that she knew a shortcut to her destination but would get lost. She loved to hang out with her friends around a backyard bonfire that her father would start with a “can of gasoline and a leaf blower,” her brother said.

Ryan Huenink said his sister adored and aspired to be like their mother, Linda Huenink, whom she considered her “best friend.” He said their father, Chris Huenink, was Lindsay’s “rock” and coach for sports and life.

“Lindsay, you left us with some questions but also with so many answers,” her brother said. “Answers on how to love, on how to care, on how to live.

“I love you more than anything in the world. I miss you so much,” he said.

Poster boards all around the church were filled with photos of Huenink making faces at the camera, hugging her friends and family, canoeing, playing basketball and soccer, wearing a pumpkin Halloween costume as a young child and posing at Disney with Goofy. Paper banners were covered with messages written in colored markers by students and staff.

Verhulst urged friends and family not to blame themselves for her death, and said even at the very end, God was with Huenink and she was not alone. He encouraged everyone to not be afraid to talk about Huenink and tell stories about her in the days and weeks and years ahead.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he said. “Fill our lives with sunshine and bright colors that remind us of Lindsay.”

In addition to her parents and brother, Huenink is survived by her grandparents Lowell and Diane Huenink, Donald Kiedrowski, Carol and Alden Draeger; uncles and aunts Michael and Julie Huenink, Paul Kiedrowski, and Joseph and Julie Kiedrowski; cousins and other relatives and friends.

Becker Ritter Funeral Home said that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family for a scholarship to be established in her name.