Zdenek Henry Pechacek lived a full and amazing life.

Born in Usti Nad Orlici Czechoslovakia, October 20th, 1949, he grew up in a country ravaged by WWII and isolated by the Iron Curtain. As a child, he explored woods and streams loaded with unexploded munitions and from that point on he accepted risk as part of his life, and he would not stop living to worry about it.

He rode motocross as a teen and continued to ride motorcycles right through age 73. He attended Forestry school, learning skills he would use throughout his life. He never met a tree he couldn’t top, trim or drop exactlywherehewantedit.He was appointed Government Forester in his District and served for not quite 2 years before enlisting in mandatory military service. He quickly became a crack shot, and also an excellent driver, so much so he was entrusted with moving the Soviet warheads from hiding place to hiding place. And his craving for the freedom the West offered finally boiled over into action.

He carried out an incredible bid for freedom, leading the Czech military on a chase from one end of the country to the other, culminating in a spectacular crash through 3 border barricades under gunfire, to reach the safety of Austria. He came to Hopkins, Minnesota in June 1969, with no money, speaking no English, and only the clothes on his back and a bloody, torn military uniform.

Within two months he was hitchhiking out West, exploring and falling in love with his new country. He returned to Hopkins, got a job as a meat cutter, then a tree trimmer. In 1970 he met Colleen Hendricks, and they were married in 1972. Denny went on to start his own tree service company, then went to work at Wood Lake Nature Center in Richfield. He loved the job, particularly setting up learning programs for kids, like beekeeping and making snowshoes. And he loved taking his own small daughters to work with him.

He married Julie Dundovic on July 19th, 1985. Together, they bought land in Hovland in the early 1980’s, and Denny began to build a retirement cabin with his own hands, alternating weekends between family in the Cities and building his dream in Hovland. He started work with Transformed Tree Construction and was made a full partner in the business.

He made the trip back to Czech Republic to see family many times and his family was able to visit here as well. In 1993, Denny and his brother Miroslav took an epic two month sailing trip from Washington to Prince Edward Island in a 27-foot sailboat, and Denny had never sailed before. He studied and learned from books and then learned as he went. And that was how he approached most of life.

He loved sailing, boating, fishing, hunting, foraging, flying, paragliding and any other pursuit that got him out in the woods, up in the sky, or out on the water.

He took early retirement and spent the last 20 years continuing to learn about anything and everything, living the life he had earned, and taking care of his friends, family, and neighbors.

No day was complete without projects, calls with friends and family, cooking a good meal, visits and the accompanying laughter and tall tales, or helping out someone else in a myriad of ways.

He will be remembered for his great cooking, ready advice, quiet philosophy, deep friendships, and love of a good beer.

He often said, “I became the man I envied. If I can do it, anyone can.”

Denny’s bright light left us, August 18th, 2023.

He was preceded in death by his father, Miroslav Pechacek, his mother Ruzena Pechacek, his first wife, Colleen Hendricks, and his second wife Julie Dundovic.

He is survived by his brother Miroslav (Mirek) Pechacek (Anna), sisterin- law, Nancy Jones, sister- in-law, Rena Dundovic, brother-in-law, Wayne Dundovic (Terry), daughter, Missy Niskanen (Bruce Anderson), daughter, Susan Lemire (Mike), daughter, Nicole Scott (Matt), son Sean Pechacek (Abbey), daughter Dana Pechacek, and best friend and fiance, Amy Neilsen.

In addition, he is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, grandchildren, grand nieces and nephews and great grandchildren.

A Celebration of his life will be held at the Hovland Town Hall, Friday October 20th.