Madison community mourns Abundant Life teacher killed in school shooting

Two days before Christmas, Erin West’s three daughters, husband, parents and hundreds of friends gathered to honor her life. 

The 42-year-old DeForest teacher was killed in Wisconsin’s deadliest school shooting Dec. 16 at Abundant Life Christian School. 

Friends and family remembered West as a devout follower of Jesus who was quick to show her empathy and talked about God’s goodness through hard times.

“Simply put, Erin was a Christian. Faithful and unashamed,” said Rob Warren, lead pastor at Doxa Church in Madison, where West’s funeral was held Monday.

“Through tragedy and tears, we unexpectedly had to say, ‘There she goes,’” Warren continued.

“I want everyone in the room to know that on that same day, December 16, there was a multitude of saints and angels waiting for Erin on the shores of heaven saying, ‘Here she comes.’”

West moved to Wisconsin six years ago with her husband, Jack, who was transferred to the state for work. 

She worked as a teacher at Abundant Life for four years and was an active member of Doxa Church. 

West loved camping and trips to Disney World with her three young daughters, wine tasting with her husband and attending church events, said her friend Nate Kaloupek. 

Originally from Powder Springs, Georgia, Erin never lost her southern accent or charm, Kaloupek said. 

“She showed her Georgia roots when she said ‘I love ya’ll,’ and she said it often,” he said. “One thing that was really endearing about Erin was she was really bad at hiding her emotions. It was a genuine gift. She would show her empathy and care and she wasn’t pretending.”

In addition to Jack and her daughters, Emery, Laurel and Adleigh, she is survived by her parents and sister.  

The Dec. 16 shooting shook the Madison community and the small religious school of about 400 pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students. 

On Friday, more than 100 Madison high schoolers marched two miles through snowy streets on Friday morning to call for solutions to gun violence and mental health access. 

A funeral service for Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, was held on Saturday. Both were fatally shot by an Abundant Life student who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Six others were injured. As of Monday, one person remained in critical condition, another person is in stable condition. 

In a statement to WPR, Abundant Life Director of Advancement Barbara Wiers said the school is focused on supporting faculty and families as they go through funerals and the holidays. 

Information about the school reopening will be shared in January.