John "Biggy" Poderzay

A celebration of life for John Charles “Biggy” Poderzay, 52, of Gilbert, will be 11am Friday, October 9, 2015 at the Gilbert VFW Post in Gilbert. Inurnment will be at a later date. He died Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Essentia Health – Duluth, MN surrounded by his family. John was born March 18, 1963 to John J. and Dorothy E. (Turner) Poderzay. He was a 1981 graduate of Gilbert High School and followed in his father’s footsteps as a bar owner who owned and operated BJ’s Bar in Gilbert for many years. More recently he was self-employed and worked in concrete construction. Biggy especially enjoyed times spent with his father, with friends at the shack or on fishing trips with friends at Trout Lake. Biggy was often known to be the life of the party and was a regular at Fortune Bay or occasionally at the Brainerd International Raceway. Survivors include his siblings: Michael (Yvette) Jacobson of Elk River, Debbie Jacobson of Mt. Iron, Brad Jacobson of Iron and Russ (Cassie) Poderzay of Braham; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by his grandparents; parents: John and Dorothy; brother, Larry Jacobson; sister, Cathy Jacobson.