Obituary of David Thomas Huzel

David Thomas Huzel was born in Dawson Creek, BC, on July 14th, 1951, to John and Bonnie Huzel and passed away on August 16th, 2012 at the young age of 61. Dave was predeceased by his grandparents John and Katherine Latimer, niece Shelann Emery, sister Linda Emery, father John Huzel and father-in-law Allan Carlson. Dave grew up in Dawson and loved sports--hockey, basketball, baseball to name a few--and would even sneak out of his house as early as 6:00am on the weekends to play outside. David started his coaching career when he was 18 years old. He coached the SPSS High School girls basketball team. This started his passion for coaching. Throughout the next 15 years David coached High School Girls Basketball, Women's basketball and Women's fastball. Many friendships and good times were created in those early years. When his children were old enough to play sports he found another passion: coaching his children. Paige in basketball, Jon in hockey, baseball and basketball and Jake in hockey, baseball, volleyball and basketball. You will notice he didn’t coach Paige in baseball--while it had always been his position he could teach anyone to throw, in Wanda’s words, ‘not like a girl,’ when Paige came along he claimed there were some things even HE couldn’t fix. His children learned many lifelong lessons with their dad coaching. Every member of the team is important, never quit trying and always do your best. It doesn't matter if you are losing by 50 points, just get out there, work hard and have fun. Dave had a gift of being able to work with a variety of people from many walks of life and this was exemplified through his choices of jobs over the years--whether it was at the Welfare Office, working with special needs adults at "The Place”, being a supervisor for the Federal Government or a Labour Market manager for the Province of British Columbia. David also had a passion for computers. Many hours were spent on the phone or Skype with any combination of his children or their spouses trying to solve problems or determine which program or computer would best suit their needs. I remember calling for Dave with a question about a computer issue. Wanda answered the phone and, after some small talk, hollered, "David! Your son-in-law has a computer question!” I could clearly hear him respond, "What did the dumbass do now?” Wanda handed him the phone. I was thinking I’d just pretend I didn’t hear it and suffer silently. Is this what he really thought of me behind my back? When he picked up the phone he said, "Well, what’d you wreck now... dumbass?” We both learned something that day: I learned a new trick to fix my computer and Dave learned that he loved my new nickname. Thanks, Dave. Wanda also benefited from his expertise--one now famous example of this was when she called from work looking for help and Dave needed her to click the start button. She informed him her computer didn’t have a start button. His passion for technology came across clearly during that phone call! Dave was a very private person who was not demonstrative, but those who knew him well also knew of his droll sense of humour and his amazing ability to always see the best in everyone. The first time Dave met me, it was when Paige and I travelled from Augustana in Camrose to Grande Prairie to play basketball against Grande Prairie Regional College. After watching the girls play, Paige went and sat with her parents in the stands. Dave asked, "Well. Which one is he?” Paige pointed me out. Dave paused. "He’s too short. Get a new one. ” I’m still hoping he was joking. Dave was also perhaps the jumpiest person in Dawson--and for an athlete he certainly wasn’t graceful! His kids used to love playing hide and seek with him when they were younger as they could hide in the very same spot every time and when they would jump out at him, Dave would have to scrape himself off of the ceiling. Wanda once shared a story of her and Dave, coming back from Edmonton, driving up the Pouce hill when a loud bang rang out. Dave, weaving from side to side of the road, shouted, "I’m shot! I’m shot!” When Wanda finally calmed him enough to pull over to the side of the road, Dave frantically searched the back of his head for the wound. The only evidence of the deadly gunfire they could find was the cork that had popped off a bottle of overheated wine. Dave loved his flowers in his garden and could been seen daily out watering in his shorts and t-shirt with a cup of coffee in his one hand and the watering hose in the other. Wanda was also seen out there as well--but she was usually delegated to slug patrol. This love of the outdoors was demonstrated to the kids early in life. Jake clearly remembers Dave dragging a lawn chair into the East Pine and parking himself in the middle of the river, sunglasses on, pants off, reading a book. Dave spent hours in the kitchen making cookies and loafs to share with friends and family and to take with him on trips to visit Paige and Jeff or Jake and Marketa. He was not above experimenting--nor was he scared to throw out entire recipes (and sometimes the pans!) if they didn’t turn out just right. He learned to laugh at those kind of mistakes, especially when it affected his children. Jon remembers his dad lovingly preparing cinnamon toast for all the kids at breakfast. We all know the recipe: toast the bread, butter the toast, sprinkle sugar then finally... pepper. Note to self: don’t store pepper next to the cinnamon. Dave loved to travel--but only as far as Edmonton to visit Paige, Jeff and Bennett or Calgary to visit Jake and Marketa. He had no interest travelling any farther. Wanda did manage to convince him a couple of years ago to take a trip to Prague with Jake and Marketa to see where his daughter-in-law grew up, however, according to Wanda, he purposely ruptured his appendix right before they needed to leave just so he didn’t have to go. Talk about talented! Dave loved watching movies--from John Wayne to Army of Darkness--and had an eclectic taste in TV shows as well. On any given day he could be seen flipping between Star Trek and Ina Garten’s "The Barefoot Contessa”. His taste in music was as varied. Paige remembers clearly being mortified when her Dad would pick her up from school with Michael Jackson’s "Thriller” or Tina Turner’s "Private Dancer” blasting out of the car’s speakers. Dave loved connecting with his children--whether it was cutting wood with Jon, spending hours on Skype with Jake or supplying Paige with coolers full of loaves and meat from the Butcher Block. His priority was his family and this was clearly felt by all of them. Dave was known by many names throughout his life-- Mr. Huzel, Big Guy, Financial Advisor, Income Tax Specialist, Coach, Large and in Charge, Big Foot, Super Dave, Boyfriend, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Best Friend. Each name given in love and will be cherished along with a lifetime of memories by Wanda, his girlfriend of 40 years, his favorite daughter Paige and her family Jeff, Bennett and Lincoln; his favourite son Jon and his family Trina, Paxton and Kendra; his favourite son Jake and his wife Marketa, along with extended family and friends. The memories are deep and rich and will be held close and celebrated forever and always. A celebration of life service was held Friday September 28th, 2012 at St James Presbyterian Church, Dawson Creek, British Columbia. The service was officiated by Reverend Barbara Pilozow. The Interment was held at Brookside Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of David may be made to the Step up 'n' Ride Society P.O. Box 2459 Dawson Creek, British Columbia V1G 4T9.