John Pekar

John “Jerry” Pekar, 71, of Breezy Point, died on Monday, February 13, 2017 at Essentia Health/St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, February 21 at St. Christopher's Catholic Church in Nisswa, with Father Mike Patullo officiating. Visitation will be Monday, February 20, 2017 from 5-7PM at Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes. Interment will be at Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery.

Jerry was born July 3, 1945 to Barbara (Petrilla) and John F. Pekar in Joliet, Illinois. He graduated from Lockport High School, in Lockport, IL. In September of 1965, Jerry joined the United States Navy, where he spent much of his time in a submarine named The USS Tunny. Following his discharge Jerry received degrees in Drafting and Electrical. He then moved to Alaska to work as an electrician on the Alaskan Pipeline.

After moving to Alexandria, MN, he purchased Geneva Lodge and ran that for a year before purchasing Blacks Crescent Beach Resort in Osakis. Jerry met Deanna Amborn and they were united in marriage on March 14, 1980 in Alexandria. They had two children, Leslie and Tyler, and ran the resort for 22 years. After selling the resort they purchased Sullivan’s Resort on North Long Lake in 2004, which they owned until 2016.

Jerry's favorite hobby was fishing, on any body of water that he could, but his favorite fishing spot was Lake of the Woods. He also enjoyed hunting, motorcycling, snowmobiling, and socializing. Jerry was most proud of his Navy submarine service, his family, children and grandchildren.

Jerry is preceded in death by his father, John F. Pekar. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Deanna of Breezy Point; his children, Leslie (Kevin) Madson of Champlin and Tyler (Melissa) Pekar of Burtrum; his six grandchildren, Ashton, Ava and Aiden Madson, and Wyatt, Brooklyn and Noah Pekar; Jerry's mother, Barbara Pekar of Lockport, Illinois; and two sisters, Carol (Jim) Teiber and Shari (Rick) Novotny. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to Conservation Minnesota address is 1101 West River Parkway Suite #250 Minneapolis, MN 55415 or you can make your memorial to their website, www.conservationminnesota.org Arrangements have been entrusted to Brenny Funeral Chapel in Pequot Lakes, MN.