Steven Michael Zehendner

Steven Michael "Mike" Zehendner DVM died March 7,2026 in Portland after a long illness. Mike died peacefully surrounded by family members. He owned the East Portland Veterinary clinic in Portland until his retirement in 2022.

Services for Mike will be held at St Henry Catholic Church in Gresham, on Tuesday, March 24th with a Rosary at 10:30 a.m., Funeral Mass at 11 a.m., followed by a reception in the Madonna Center at St. Henry.

Mike was born on January 16,1945 to Martha and Gerald Zehendner in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He attended Bethlehem Lutheran Grade School, South Side High School and Purdue University. At Purdue University after two years, based on scholarship, he obtained early entry to the Purdue University Veterinary School. Fulfilling a dream that began at age nine, he graduated in 1969 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

After practicing veterinary medicine in Michigan and Indiana, Mike moved with his family to Portland in 1977 and established his clinic on NE Sandy Blvd. He practiced at that location for forty-five years until his retirement.

During the early years building his veterinary practice, Mike made time to serve the community in Boy Scouts. Starting as a Cub Scout leader and then Boy Scouts. He was Scout Master for Troop 606 for many years. Mike led the Troop on successful adventures including 50-mile canoe trips, camping weekends and climbing Mount Hood, South Sister and two trips up Mount St. Helens. There were service projects too - flag plants, serving meals to the needy, and Eagle Sout projects in the community. Mike was awarded the highest honor for scouting volunteers the Silver Beaver award.

Related to his professional life Mike, as a volunteer, served on the Board of Directors for the Dove Lewis Animal Hospital for six years, two of those years as Board President.

Mike continued his lifelong love of the outdoors and in 2000 began raising and training Labrador Retrievers His involvement expanded to Hunt Test competitions and working with hunting retrievers at the Veterinary clinic as well. His involvement with hunting dogs continued into the later years of his life.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother Gerald William "Bill" Zehendner, brothers-in-law John, James, Thomas and Patrick McNassar and Walter Zenner; Sisters-in-law Cynthia Zehendner, Ann Zenner, Sister Mary McNassar SNJM, and Alice McNassar. He is survived by his wife Maureen Zehendner, sons Michael Zehendner and his wife Nancy Foo; and Samuel Newman and his wife Alissa Newman, Granddaughters Andrea Newman and Audrey Newman; brothers-in-law Michael McNassar, Joe Digman, and Randall Stewart; sisters-in-law Jeannie McNassar, Kathleen Stewart, Jane McNassar, Heather McNassar, Barbara "Mufti" McNassar, Suellen McNassar; 17 nephews, 13 nieces, 22 great-nephews, 29 great-nieces.

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