Obituary of Dennis Breitner

Dennis “Denny” Allen Breitner, poet, pumpkin carver, morel mushroom connoisseur, and legendary back-rub giver, died on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at Toledo Hospital, from heart and renal failure. He was 66. Denny’s personal motto could be summed up in Popeye’s famous phrase, “I am what I am.” He was born on October 6, 1949 to Donald and Genevieve Breitner. A lifelong resident of the Dundee-Petersburg area, he graduated from Summerfield High, where his love for language found an outlet through the satirical stories and wry poems he wrote for the school newspaper. Denny never knew a chore or repair project that didn’t deserve a good cussing out, especially if it involved his nemesis the Christmas tree, but he’d always rather be active than idle. He worked maintenance at Dundee Cement for nearly 30 years. Capturing the essence of Denny means including his special vocabulary (Ooo-I!), LIBRA tattoo, drag racing youth, and close bond with his siblings. To understand him was to see him with his grandkids, hollering as they crashed the lawnmower, bribing them with his secret snack stash to walk on his back, mortifying their parents with his dubious life lessons, and snuggling on the couch. He loved long drives, visiting friends, gardening, going to the races, watching Waltons reruns, eating Grandma Pluszczynski’s homemade pierogis, and being up north. But more than anything, he loved his family. Denny’s parents, Donald and Genevieve, preceded him in death much too soon. Left behind to remember this special soul are his daughters Christie (John) Bacon and Carly Breitner, step-children Jennifer (Joe) Russell and Brian (Michelle) Kesler, sisters Sandy Breitner and Charlotte (Dave) Nagy, brothers Kenny (Sandy) Breitner and Sonny (Kim) Breitner, grandchildren Kortney, Kamron, Judah, Penny, Kait, Jamie, Kaysen, and Teddy, step-parents Willie and Jinny Berger, and former wife, long time companion, and best friend, Karen Breitner, not to mention the countless other family and friends who will miss his generous spirit, big laugh, blue eyes, and warm smile. Never one to spend money on himself, he wouldn’t hesitate to give his last dime to help someone else. In that spirit, donations can be made in his honor to God Works! Family Soup Kitchen. A celebration of his life is planned for Saturday, May 21, 2016 at Jerry’s Pub on Wamplers Lake, 650 Egan Hwy. Brooklyn, MI 49230, 1 PM-4 PM. Visit his online memorial at www.Never-Gone.com/Memorials/dennybreitner. Arrangements by Cover Funeral Home - Dundee. Online condolences may be made at www.coverfuneralhome.com