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District mourns loss of kind, talented alum

Emily Widger (Class of 2010) fondly remembered for character, intelligence & artistic passions

September 22, 2014

The Wahoo Public Schools received the sad news this morning that we have lost a respected former student.

Emily F. Widger (age 22), a graduate of the Wahoo High School Class of 2010, was killed last night in a two-vehicle collision east of Elmwood, in Cass County. Her fiancé, 23-year-old Matthew F. Kirchhoff of Weeping Water, also died at the scene.

Emily was an intelligent, conscientious, and kind student with a passion for all things related to music. She was a member of Student Council and the National Honor Society, and you could always count on her name being listed on the school's Honor Roll. Emily was a very active member in the WHS pep band, show choir, B-Sharps, one act play production, and speech team. In addition to her academic excellence, Emily also earned numerous performing arts honors during her time at WHS, including being named to the Doane Honor Band, Thespian Society, UNK Honor Choir, UNO Honor Choir, and a Music Leadership award.

Faith was also an important part of Emily's life, and that Faith blended very well with her talents in music. If you ever wanted to see Emily on the weekends, it was a safe bet that she would be singing in the choir at 10:30 Mass every Sunday morning at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wahoo. Beside her senior picture in the school yearbook is a quote by Henry Ward Beecher: "Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety, or the handle of faith."

"I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Emily," commented WHS Principal Jason Libal. "While I was not Emily's direct administrator during her time at WHS, I did have the opportunity to get to know Emily through her tremendous academic and extra-curricular contributions. Emily was an extremely gifted and talented student and musician. Because of these gifts, she made an immediate, profound and positive impact on our school system. My greatest memories of Emily were her abilities to brighten another person's day through her warm and outgoing personality. Rarely did you ever see Emily without a smile on her face and a positive outlook on life. With the passing of Emily, the world just became a less friendly and warm place. My thoughts and prayers are with the Widger family, and Emily will be dearly missed by all."

Her former teachers agree.

"Emily was one of the most hard working music students I have ever taught. She was the kind of student who would take her music home and practice for hours on end. She had a definite passion for singing and the arts in general," said WHS Vocal Director Julie Baker-Anderson. "The music department was practically her second home during high school. She took every opportunity she could to perform, and she had such a zest for life. It was because of her love and dedication to the music department that she received the music leadership award her senior year. My heart is broken to hear of her passing and my thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and all who knew and loved her."

"I had the pleasure of having Emily in my biology and anatomy classes when she was in high school. She was a very quiet and sweet girl who was very active in music and had a wide range of friends at Wahoo High School. She had a wonderful sense of humor and took tremendous pride in her academics. She will be missed greatly by everyone whose lives were brightened by knowing Emily," said WHS Science Instructor Steve Shannon.

WHS Math Instructor Mark Watton added, "I remember Emily as a very sweet, kind girl who was always trying to make other people feel better. She worked extremely hard and I know she had a very goal-oriented outlook to life. Emily's passion for life was very apparent each and everyday! It breaks my heart to know her life was cut so short. My sincere condolences go out to all her family and friends. She was truly a blessing to all the people she knew."

The visitation will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2014 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Wahoo (214 E. 2nd Street). A Rosary service will be held immediately following the visitation.

The Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, September 29 at 11:00 a.m., also at St. Wenceslaus. Interment will follow at First Lutheran (North Branch) Cemetery in Avoca, NE.

Services are being arranged by Svoboda Funeral Home in Wahoo. Please click HERE to read Emily's obituary, and to leave condolences to the family.

The thoughts and prayers of the WPS administration, faculty and staff go out to Emily's family during this time. We mourn her loss, but are thankful for the mark Emily has left on this school and in the community of Wahoo.