Services are pending at the Warner Funeral Home in Spencer for Michael Zenor, a seven-term former Clay County Attorney who passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, June 30, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

He was 59 years old.

Zenor had been under medical care in Sioux Falls since June 20, when he began having difficulty breathing. He was transported by ambulance from Spencer to Rock Rapids. He then was flown by emergency helicopter to Sioux Falls as his health continued to fade.

The Zenor family, which includes his wife Paula and adult children Ben, Amy and Paul, were by his side throughout his hospital stay.

The role of a proud father may have been his most prominent one, according to Brad Howe, a Spencer attorney who grew up with Zenor in Spencer.

"All three kids clearly love both of their parents," he said.

District Court Judge Patrick Carr was a partner in Zenor's Spencer law firm early on in Zenor's career. Clay County Attorney Mike Houchins and another assistant county attorney -- Charles Borth -- where the most recent partners with Zenor at his law office in north Spencer.

"Mike was never happier than when he was watching his kids succeed -- playing sports, school, whatever the endeavor," Carr said. "He was by far their biggest fan."

Zenor stepped down in May 2005 after 26 years as the county's lead prosecutor -- Zenor's move to a home in Okoboji made him ineligible for elected office in Clay County. He continued to handle cases both in private practice and as an assistant county attorney under Houchins, his successor.

"Mike never worked as an associate or never worked for another firm," Houchins said. "As soon as he got out of law school he hung up his own shingle and started practicing law. That tells you a lot about Mike because he believed in his abilities and he believed that he could succeed -- and he did. He did it on his own terms."

Zenor found the same kind of success in the public sector. He won his first term as Clay County Attorney in 1978. It was the first of his seven uncontested wins for the office. Howe saw a reason for the uneventful election nights.

"I know he had the respect of the legal community and he certainly had longtime, loyal clients -- and you don't keep a client for a long time unless the client not only trusts you but believes you know what you're doing," he said.

Without hearing Howe's comments, Carr added another theory.

"To be honest, I'm not sure there's anybody else that wanted the job," the judge said. "It's not exactly a bowl of cherries."

Zenor's track record for tackling difficult tasks -- and succeeding -- also put him near the top of the list for many non-profit organizations. Board meetings checkered his schedule.

"Part of his beliefs were to give back to society because he'd been blessed with a good mind and a good career," Houchins said. "He did a lot of volunteer work."

The attorney is credited with a role in the shift of fortunes at Historic Arnolds Park, Inc. (HAPI), which includes a century-old amusement park complex, Queen II excursion boat, Preservation Plaza concert green space and row of retail businesses near West Lake Okoboji.

"He was put on their board when they had a lot of financial difficulties and lot of struggles up there," Houchins said. "They were looking for some strong leadership. Mike was put on that board for the Maritime Museum (a previous name for HAPI) and I think he, along with some other board members were instrumental in turning that whole thing around at the Lakes. He was very proud of that."

He also was president of the Spencer Little League Board of Directors and was instrumental in getting a new concession stand constructed at the Pederson Park baseball/softball complex. He served on the AAA's Minnesota/Iowa District Board and was a leader at Grace United Methodist Church.

"He was deeply religious," Houchins said. "I know he taught Sunday school for many years at Grace Methodist Church, and he would meet with Dr. Brian Dvorak on Saturdays to prepare -- they would spend two or three hours preparing for a one-hour Sunday school class."

Governor Tom Vilsack presented Zenor with the Shining Star Award for ongoing service to the Northwest Aging Association in Spencer. Zenor started service work on behalf of the elderly soon after he graduated from law school. "I picked something that interested me so I could help Spencer become a better place," he said at the time.

"Mike was a highly-skilled, very well-seasoned lawyer who took a problem and worked as hard as he could on it until it was either solved or he couldn't work it anymore," Carr said. "He was a tremendous asset in the community."

"Mike exemplified what I think are the old-fashioned virtues of the practice of law," Carr later added.

As the practice becomes more fragmented, there are fewer and fewer general practitioners, according to the judge, who said. "It's hard to maintain those same traditions."

"I've been thinking about Mike since a week ago last Friday and the concepts that came to my mind were courage, tolerance and decency," Carr said. "He's a good student of the law, but you put that all together and you get a guy who can make an impact far beyond the profession."

Zenor's impact became evident as word of his failing health reached the legal community.

"I've had a lot of calls from area attorneys expressing grave concern and then very complimentary of Mike," Howe said.

Houchins joined the Zenor Law Office in 1993 and can't recall ever having an argument with the founding partner.

"He was fair and honest in dealing with me," Houchins said. "That's the way he was as a prosecutor. In fact, we kind of joked that he had a couple of clients who came to him because they respected the way he prosecuted them. He had the ability to look at the big picture."