Dennis Jay Povlitzki
May 30, 1952 ~ May 13, 2025
Dennis “Denny” Povlitzki passed away on May 13, 2025, just shy of his 73rd birthday.
Denny was unforgettable. With piercing blue eyes and a and a one-of-a-kind, highly contagious laugh, he had a presence you felt the moment he walked in the room. He was spunky, quirky, and he never met a prank he didn’t like. His jokes weren’t always appropriate, but that never stopped him from telling them.
He was an incredibly gifted builder. Carpentry came naturally to him, like it lived in his bones. From childhood swing sets to backyard decks and entire homes, he built things that stood the test of time. His skills were refined under the guidance of his Uncle Cyril, who was a mentor, friend and one of the few people Denny listened to. Denny could build anything, and he did.
Denny also had a deep love for gardening, smoking meats & fish, and canning literally anything you could fit in a mason jar. Salsa, pickles, sauerkraut, eggs, fish, and veggies- and we can’t forget the ghost pepper juice! He was a world-class canner. Canning extravaganzas were Denny’s holidays- Kraut Day was more significant than Christmas. He was known to carry his most requested, handwritten recipes in his wallet, ready to share. And while he was generous in sharing most of his recipes with anyone who asked, unfortunately there was one he took with him: his infamous chicken wings. Despite repeated requests, all we ever got was “just use whatever you’ve got in the kitchen” and that has failed us every single time.
As remarkable as Denny was, his heart wasn’t always easy to access. He could be impossibly stubborn, and he knew how to hold a grudge. Some relationships stayed strained and never got the chance to heal. Vulnerability wasn’t in his toolkit. Yet, we know that beneath the silence, the distance, and the stubbornness, love was still there- he just couldn’t always find the words to say it.
Those who knew the full spectrum of Denny, who he let in, were blessed beyond belief. Because underneath that hard exterior was a man with a golden heart, a man who was surprisingly sentimental. Denny kept the memory of those who passed before him close, in his own quiet, reverent way. Denny’s way of saying “I love you” never looked traditional. He showed up unannounced with buckets of homemade chicken wings, jars of mouth-searing salsa, or something pickled you didn’t know you needed. And then came the bear hugs: big, tight, and all-consuming.
Denny had a tribe of loyal friends who loved and accepted him exactly as he was. They fished together, hunted together, laughed until they cried, and stood by him without expecting him to change. He taught them the art of canning, gardening, and meat smoking, because if Denny had a gift, he shared it- no fuss, no frills.
He passed those same gifts on to his nieces, Marina, Megan, and Melanie, who adored him and admittedly know they got Denny at his best. He taught them how to can, how to build things, lent out his tools, shared his best gardening tricks, and even taught them how to mow the lawn “as good as your dad did.” He even let them tag along on salmon fishing trips with his buddies- trips filled with laughter, storytelling, a little potato juice, and lessons that didn’t stop when the fish hit the boat. Denny coached them all the way to the end: curing and smoking the final catch into applewood-smoked perfection.
As much as he taught, Denny also left plenty of room for interpretation. When asked how long to cook something, his go-to response was, “Four to five beers.” Directions to his house weren’t much clearer: “Take the highway and turn right at the metal guardrail.” And yet, somehow, they always found their way.
Denny lived life entirely on his own terms, in his own way, and allowed others to do the same. He taught those he loved to trust their instincts, to figure things out (sometimes the hard way), and to always enjoy the process whether in the kitchen, in the garden, or in life.
There will truly never be another like Denny. He was tough, yet tender, wildly skilled, and unapologetically himself. He’ll be missed more than words can express, and remembered every time a jar is cracked open, the smoker gets going, or a joke is told that makes us laugh, even if it doesn’t quite land.
Preceded in death by parents, Eugene and Angeline; brothers, Whitey and Marti; sisters, Terry and Jean Jereska; niece, Angela Fleck; and beloved fur-child, Eigor. Survived by son, Jeremy Belland; grandson, Vince Belland; sisters, Goody (Greg) Vokovan, Fonda (Keith) Fleck; nieces & nephews, Jennifer Maciejny, Billy Sjoblom, Ryan Fleck, Marina, Megan Teisberg, Melanie, and Hilary Vokovan; many extended family, cherished friends, and neighbors.
Denny’s life will be celebrated with a SendOff on Saturday, July 12. 2025, at the Zonta Lodge at Ojiketa Regional Park: 27500 Kirby Ave. Chisago City, MN 55013. The SendOff will be open house style from 11 AM – 2 PM, with a ceremony at noon.
Come as you are. Flannels, jorts, and sweatbands are welcome. No matter how you knew Denny, there’s a place for you here. We’ll swap stories, raise a Hamm’s, and celebrate him in true Denny fashion.
Services
SendOff: Saturday, July 12, 2025 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Zonta Lodge
27500 Kirby Ave, Chisago City, MN 55013
Chisago City,
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2025-07-12 11:00:00
2025-07-12 02:00:00
DennisJayPovlitzkiSendOff
SendOff
27500 Kirby Ave, Chisago City, MN 55013,Chisago City,
Memorial Service: Saturday, July 12, 2025 12:00 pm
Zonta Lodge
27500 Kirby Ave, Chisago City, MN 55013
Chisago City,
Add to My Calendar
America/Chicago
2025-07-12 12:00:00
2025-07-12 12:00:00
DennisJayPovlitzkiMemorial Service
Memorial Service
27500 Kirby Ave, Chisago City, MN 55013,Chisago City,
What a tribute. I always felt at ease talking to Denny. That was his way. He was genuine and sincere but not afraid of confrontation if he felt it needed to be said.