CALEDONIA, Minn. — The man found dead Wednesday in his rural Brownsville, Minn., boathouse was a lifelong resident and former assistant fire chief of Houston, Minn., authorities said.

Dennis Franklin Todd, 56, was found about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday in the boathouse along the Mississippi River, Houston County Sheriff Doug Ely said, adding that foul play is not suspected.
Bill Hoskins, who was fire chief during Todd’s years as assistant chief and knew him for more than 20 years, called Todd “a peach of a guy” who was popular in the community and a vital part of the department. Todd also served on various city boards.

“Dennis was an excellent fireman. He was the cream of the crop,” said Hoskins.

Todd is survived by wife Karen and two grown sons.

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