A piece to remember former Humboldt Public School caretaker, Niel Britz, now stands on the playground at the elementary school.
The school held a dedication ceremony on May 7, to dedicate a gazebo on the playground in his honour.
After the unfortunate passing of Britz due to cancer a few years ago his family decided that the memorial fund would go to the Humboldt Public School’s Playground Committee.
Britz’s widow, Joanne Hutsel née Britz, says they decided to have the memorial fund go to the elementary school’s playground committee because Niel really enjoyed the children at the school.
“That’s what he talked about all the time, and what he was worried about all the time, and who he wanted to please so that’s where we thought he would want it to go.”
School Principal, Dave Hill, was really pleased to be able to have a piece of Britz on the school playground.
“It’s just awesome, a great day for our school to be able to remember Niel Britz in the way that we remembered him today dedicating this gazebo.”
Hill remembers Britz as a very caring man, for the students, for the staff, and of the building. He says Britz was fun, great to be around, always had a joke, and always had a smile.
“He was the embodiment of what any person who works with young people should be.”
Hill thought the gazebo was the perfect homage to Britz.
“When we did a service for our students I mentioned to them that the gazebo was a place of safety and a place of friendship and that’s how Niel would have wanted it.”
The dedication was very well attended with a number of Britz’s family in attendance and portion of the elementary school family as well, which was very nice to see, says Joanne.
“It means the world to me to know that they’re still thinking about him just like we are.”
Hill says he was really pleased to see so many of Britz’s family at the dedication and looks forward to having the gazebo on the playground for kids to use for years to come.
“I know for years to come students of HPS will get to sit on those benches in that gazebo and it’s just nice to know a piece of Niel is there.”
