Whitnall Community Rallies Around Barnstable Family

Brittany Barnstable was a talented artist and a soccer player with a rambunctious side that made her stand out in a crowd.

Her teachers say she pushed the limits with her creativity and that she had a bright future.

But on Sunday, Brittany died of injuries sustained when the bicycle she was riding in Saturday was struck by an SUV as the 15-year-old Whitnall High School freshman crossed Sunnyslope Road in New Berlin.

Students and staff wore red shirts in honor of Brittany on Monday, and Monday evening, her soccer teammates wore her number “15” on their shin guards during the junior varsity and varsity games at South Milwaukee.

The Whitnall community also took to social media to show their support for the Barnstable family. On Twitter, friends, teammates and family used the hashtag #RedForBrittany to offer condolences and encouragement.

Kayla Kilps ‏‪@KaylaKilps Glad we got the Win. That was for you Brittany. ‪#RedForBrittany‪#WinForBrittany

Ashtin Martinez ‏‪@rosepetalchick All my thoughts and prayers all go out to the Barnstable family, heaven has a new angel that we will all dearly miss ‪#RedForBrittany

rachael jaszczenski ‏‪@rachjaszczenski I have to say, it was an impressive day at whitnall. a huge shoutout to the barnstables for being so strong. ‪#RedForBrittany

The school’s art department put together a display case featuring Brittany’s art from this school year. Art teacher Lucy Derickson said she loved having Brittany in class.

“I was always very excited to find out how she would interpret a new project or challenge,” Derickson said. “She was innovative and enthusiastic about her work. She had an eye for detail and the drive to make her work perfect.

“And it’s not just her artistic talents that made Brittany stand out in class; it was her rambunctious spirit. She was such a unique individual, a complete one-of-a-kind. She was tough and rugged but thoughtful and sincere. She was the one who challenged the norm.”

Get more local stories like this on Facebook. Click to join us!

Derickson said Brittany was the kind of student that made an impression on her, a student who’d often cross her mind when Derickson was away from school.

“She was a student who I knew would go on to do amazing things,” Derickson said.

Fellow art teacher Jessica Breske called Brittany “an original” with a wildly creative mind who was the light of Breske’s sixth-hour drawing class. She said Brittany was filled with spunk and energy and engaged her fellow students in conversation.

“I loved to talk to her about her projects,” Breske said. “Brittany pushed boundaries; every project she would find a way to make it her own. That is what I loved about her, her love and passion to create and try new techniques. Brittany will be dearly missed in my classroom and my heart.”

The Whitnall 'family'

Whitnall Superintendent Lowell Holtz called Brittany’s death a great loss to the district but was proud of the level of “family” students showed Monday. He said having Brittany’s family show up for a photo at Falcon Field of all the students dressed in red in honor of their classmate was touching.

“Our kids focused on what they could do to help the family, and then the family showed up to help the kids,” Holtz said. “It was an impressive event.”

Holtz said he was impressed with his high school staff and how prepared they were to help students. He said there will be a plaque recognizing Brittany that will be hung in the high school and that a tree will be planted in her honor in the coming weeks. The art department also made a special card for condolences for Brittany’s family.

The Whitnall School Board recognized Brittany with a moment of silence Monday evening.