Britzmann, Herbert C. - 1900-1965

BRITZMANN, NIXON

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/27/2015 at 11:17:52

Hawarden Independent, June 24, 1965

Funeral services for Herbert C. Britzmann, 64, Hawarden business man and former superintendent of public schools here, who died unexpectedly from a heart attack at his store about 12:45 Tuesday will be held at 2 o'clock Friday at the First Methodist Church, Dr. G. S. Bruland officiating. Burial will be in Grace Hill cemetery under the direction of the Barnard-Dow Funeral Home.

Mr. Britzmann, who was in apparent good health, was working at the Smart Shop of which he is proprietor marking and unpacking merchandise, and had gone upstairs to the stock department when he was stricken. An employee, Mrs. Penny Andriesen, followed shortly and found him apparently already dead. A physician was summoned.

Mr. Britzmann also owned stores in Canton, SD and Sheldon, Iowa and at one time had shops in Rock Rapids and Oakland, Neb.

Born at Beaver Dam, Wis, December 21, 1900, he graduated from the high school there. He received his bachelor of science degree from South Dakota State College at Brookings, and his master's degree from the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. He did post graduate work at the University of Minnesota, the University of Iowa and Colorado University.

He started as coach and served as principal at Canton for seven years, then became superintendent of schools at Hartley, Iowa, where he remained two years before coming to Hawarden in 1934. During his 15 years as superintendent of the Hawarden public school system there was extensive progress with many honors obtained by the school, including those in the music department when Hawarden's 80 students placed third in the Iowa State contest and in debate, meriting five state championships While superintendent in Hawarden he became district president of the Iowa State Teachers association.

In 1948 he and Mrs. Britzmann, the former Dorothy Nixon, whom he married at Balaton, Minn, on June 9, 1928, purchased the Smart Shop, having gone into the retail business the preceeding year by purchasing a ladies ready-to-wear store at Rock Rapids.

He was a member of the Methodist church and former member of the Rotary club in Hawarden and the Iowa State Teachers Association.

Survivors include the widow, Dorothy; a daughter, Mrs. Loyle (Roxanne) Larson of Hawarden, a son, Dr. J. Burt Britzmann of Moscow, Idaho; two brothers, Fred Britzmann of Pasadena, CA, and Roland Britzmann of Rock Island, IL; three sisters, Mrs. Elmer Kuhlman of Lake Mills, Wis.; Norma Britzmann of Dallas, Texas, and Mrs. Alex Coutlee of Bourbonnais, IL. and nine grandchildren including: Lon, Randy and Denise Larson and Dianne, Brad, Doak, Mitchell, Margo and Daniel Britzmann.

Note: omitted a long paragraph about his bird watches and houses as his hobby.