Douglas Dean Brenner passed away on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at the age of 76, after a short battle with cancer.
Doug was born on March 3, 1941 in Minneapolis, but grew up in the small town of Deer Creek, Minn. and was the youngest child of Earl and Anne Andrie, who preceded him in death. On May 23, 1959, he married Sharon Rohl in Anoka, Minn. and they had four children.
Doug ran a successful business in Mounds View, Minn., where he was the owner of a Union 76 full service station, but after spending summer vacations at Pike Lake in Grand Marais, Doug and Sharon embarked on an adventure as the new owners of Pike Lake Resort in June 1973, taking over from Art and Lavern Schliep. In conjunction with running the resort, Doug took up logging, working for Marvin Soderlund and upon Marvin’s retirement, purchased the logging business, which became known as Doug Brenner Logging and he worked at his beloved logging until his retirement in 2014.
Doug was a regular at Super America, where he faithfully came in for coffee and conversation before heading to the woods to work. A special acknowledgement to Johnny Bloomquist, whose friendship meant the world to him.
Doug is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sharon; his children Douglas S. (Becky) Brenner, Vickie (David) Benik, Wendy Johnson and Julie (David) Rannetsberger; his grandchildren Stephanie, Nichole, Dylan, Charlie, Dustin, Joey, Andy, Erik, Kristi, Nick, Cooper and Dakota; his great-grandchildren
Tucker, Daniel, Philip, Jackson and Jordan; brothers; a sister; nieces and nephews.
Since Logger Doug worshipped at the “Church of the Stump,” per his wishes, no service will be held.
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