Renier Nel remembered with drive-in memorial service
He was opinionated, a loving husband and father and the true definition of a firefighter.
This was how crew commander Renier Nel was remembered when hundreds of mourners gathered in their vehicles on Laerskool Westwood’s rugby field drive-in memorial service in his honour on August 9.
Renier lost his fight against Covid-19 on August 3 after spending approximately a month in hospital.
He served the community of Boksburg and Ekurhuleni as a firefighter and paramedic with pride, valor and dignity for over 26 years and was stationed at Leon Ferreira Fire Station in Boksburg.
The main objective of the tribute was to ensure more than 50 people would get the chance to bid him farewell.
Among those who paid their respect were shift commander Jabu Mthethwa, station manager James Masuku, DEMS regional manager Johannes Riet and principal of Laerskool Westwood André van Rensburg.
Rev Christo Nel began the service with a prayer.
Renier’s brother, Riaan Nel, also spoke during the memorial and said his brother was brilliant and they have lost a giant.
He said he had the privilege to see Renier on the morning of August 2 and described it as the best five minutes of his life.
“Renier was calm when I saw him. He always had a smile on his face, no matter how bad the situation was,” Riaan said.
He explained Renier started his career by cutting grass for the municipality at stadiums.
He thanked DEMS, Laerskool Westwood, Legendary Guardian Exclusive Protection, KPS Security, Life The Glynnwood Hospital and everybody who supported them.
Principal of Laerskool Westwood said it was an honour and a privilege to work with Renier, who was also on the school’s governing body.
He said the crew commander assisted various schools in the East Rand during sporting events, like Craven Week.
“If I needed somebody next to the sports fields to look after the school’s children, I wanted it to be Renier. He was such a strong person and he cared about children. There is not a school nearby who didn’t know Renier,” he pointed out.
“Renier will be missed and he will remain with us all,” he concluded.
Furthermore, Tony Stacey, one of Renier”s colleagues, wrote a poem, Brothers In Arms, for him:
We have witnessed your bravery as flames raged high
And though they didn’t hurt so bad
We have stood together when many would cry
In times when those who helped were sad
When bells would sound the alarm
You did not desert us
Because together we are brothers in arms.
You are always part of us.
