Audrey Abel

Audrey Ruth Michalk Abel was the second child of missionary parents, born in Ambur Province, India March 6,1948. She awoke in heaven on Saturday, March 29, 2025. She became a child of God with her baptism on March 21, 1948, at Immanuel Ev. Lutheran Church in Ambur, North Arcot Dt. of South India by her father Rev. T.A. Michalk. She professed her Christian faith during her confirmation by Rev. Robert Trautmann on May 7, 1961, at Mt. Zion Lutheran Church in Kodaikanal, Madurai Dt. of South India. She and her 4 siblings, Nancy, Grace, Judy and Paul grew up with a different perspective of the world in India, watching the impact of service to others and of teaching others about God. Her childhood and teen years in India at the Kodaikanal boarding school were never far from the surface throughout her life, as she grew as an adult and had to learn “American ways” in many practices.
Audrey returned to the States in 1965. At age 17, she began nursing school at Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, Mo. During her time in nursing school, she met Alan Abel, a farm boy from Riesel, Texas who happened to be attending seminary at Concordia Seminary, St Louis, Mo.
Audrey taught Alan how to eat Indian food, Alan taught Audrey about swimming in stock tanks. They married August 27, 1968, in Giddings, Tx. Audrey and Alan have spent all of their time since then in service to God, each other, and their communities.
Audrey and Alan served as Lutheran missionaries in the Philippines for 5 years, while also growing their family with daughter Andrea and son Jon. Alan and Audrey were both involved in mission work during their tenure in the Philippines, Alan predominantly with congregational work and helping the men to become independent with food production, Audrey with teaching women how to make marketable bamboo baskets for income, as well as working with feeding groups and doing malnutrition intervention in the local communities.
They returned to the states in 1975. Audrey became OR supervisor at Bryan Hospital Bryan, Tx, head nurse in Ophthalmology at UTMB Galveston and served as a staff nurse at other hospitals in Reno, Nv and hospital and hospice in Plainview, Tx. Audrey utilized her nursing education while also encouraging Alan through his occupational change from pastoral work into medicine.
Through their 56 years of marriage, Audrey has been a major support system for her family, being a Cub Scout, Pop Warner football, and 4-H mom, in addition to being Alan’s equal partner in marriage. She and Alan built a surgical practice in Dumas, Tx, and watched their kids graduate and fly off to their own adult worlds.
Audrey helped Alan with building a house, building an airplane, building a church, and building a wide network of family and friends. Service to others through Meals on Wheels and Mobile Meals became a volunteer focus during their years in Plainview and Big Spring, Tx. Audrey and Alan loved traveling, whether it was a road trip to visit their children, babysit grandkids, or to see the rest of the world. Her boundaries were not determined by lines on a map. Audrey’s life was the definition of “I can, with the help of God”, as was repeated often during baptisms and confirmations of her many family members and friends.
Audrey was always present with a smile, encouragement, or a quirky saying, even through many of her final years while battling frontotemporal dementia. Although her speech was limited by the effects of FTD she still found a way to make a joke, and show love, frustration, or caring. Over the last 5 years spent in Lorena, she served in the quilting group at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, The Grove, and loved watching the children of the congregation sing and learn about God. Her last year has been one of being a true example of faith, love and courage as she battled through the end of her disease, with Alan as her constant provider, and other family and wonderful caregivers helping to maintain her dignity and honor at home. The past year was full of change, but those who loved and cared for her helped to find ways around barriers to maintain her quality of life. We who have had the opportunity to know and love Audrey are better for the experience.
Audrey is survived by husband of 56 years, Alan Abel of Lorena, daughter Andrea and husband Jeff Thompson of McGregor, son Jon and wife Alicia Abel of Richardson. Grandchildren Greg, Jacob, Daniel and Mary Abel, Taylor (Thompson)and Connor Strange, and great granddaughter Frankie Strange. Siblings Nancy Michalk-Barth, Grace Perez, Judy and husband Barry Mascarenhas, and Paul Michalk, sister-in-law Carol Emley, and multiple beloved extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents, Katherine and Theodore Michalk, and many other saints who have gone before. Friends and extended family across the country all are included in the support system. The family would especially like to thank caregivers Cheyenne, Elena and Melissa with Divine Homecare, CHOT “bath ladies” Judy and Flor, the nursing staff of CHOT, and Dr Chitra Hamilton. Above all else, we would like to thank God for the years of love spent with Audrey.
Memorials can be made to St Paul Lutheran Quilters and Bethania Kids (Bethaniakids.org).