Obituary of Dean Bitzer

Dean Bitzer of Cambridge passed away peacefully at his home on December 14th at the age of 77. He had been suffering with severe lung and heart issues. He was born on December 10, 1933 to Harry and Myrtle Bitzer on his grandmother's farm in Isanti County. His parents lived in South Minneapolis. However, Dean loved visiting the farm in the summer. When Dean was in his early teens he started working in his father's piano store in Minneapolis where he learned how to rebuild and refinish pianos. Working on pianos became his life long profession. He also restored and refinished antique furniture. On January 24, 1953 Dean married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Flink. They had three children. While living in Minneapolis, he worked with pianos and also had his own wood touch-up repair business. He did touch-up work for furniture stores, funeral homes, appliance stores and also music stores. In 1971 the family moved from their home in South Minneapolis to Grandy, MN. There they took on the task of restoring an older farmhouse. He brought his business with him to Grandy, building a finishing shop on their new property. Dean used his considerable knowledge and expertise of pianos and refinishing when he and Joyce opened Countryside Piano in 1981. They added furniture a few years later and then it was called Countryside Piano & Furniture. They retired from the retail business in 1999. Never wanting to be too far from his kids, Dean found his greatest pleasure when his whole family was together. He was a devoted family man and he was beloved amongst his many friends. He loved life. His hobbies included camping, fishing, woodworking, playing cards and traveling. He especially loved traveling in the couple's motor home. Dean was a charter member of the Grandy Lions Club, where he earned the distinguished Melvin Jones Award for his years of service. Dean was a longtime member of Cambridge Lutheran Church. Dean is survived by his wife, Joyce, of 57 years; Children: Dawn Severson (David) Cambridge, Denise Hinton (Matt) St. Paul, and John Bitzer (Kim) Cambridge; six grandchildren, Amy Strydom, Cedar Hinton, Sarah Flink, Brandon Anderson, Jordan Anderson and McKenzie Bitzer. They are also great-grandparents to Noah Strydom. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his grandson Bryan Benson.