The Daily News

Werner Zentner, a man who was known to be true to his word and the driving force behind a 1980s revival of United Way of Richland-Wilkin, died Saturday at his home in Duluth, Minn. Zentner was 99.

Zentner, who moved to Wahpeton in April 1966, joined the community first as a businessman. In the midst of a 33-year career with the department store Montgomery Ward, he was transferred to the Wahpeton division, only to see the operation shut down years later.

"As much as he did not enjoy it...the Wahpeton store was dialed in to be closed," said Werner's son David Zentner, currently a resident of Duluth.

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While operating a business of his own, long-time Wahpeton resident Vernon Hektner first met Zentner while he was a store manager at Montgomery Ward.

"He was a very promenading person, you couldn't help but like him when you met him. He was a real gentleman," Hektner said.

Hektner also knew Zentner from a 5 1/2 year teaching stint at the North Dakota State College of Science, which he began in 1975 after he came out of retirement the first time. Zentner, a part time teacher of salesmanship and human relation in the trades curriculum, told the Daily News in the 1980s he enjoyed relating to the younger generation and seeing the interest students showed in the college’s business courses.

Outside of the business realm, Zentner was well-known throughout Rotary Club, first joining the organization in 1942 in Rice Lake, Wis. Just three years after moving to Wahpeton, in 1969, the local Rotary chapter elected Zentner president. And after a lengthy campaign in 1976, Zentner was nominated from the floor District Governor for the 1977-1978 term.

"He was the third district governor from Wahpeton," said Tully Chambers, current District 558 Rotary Governor. "He was an absolute gentleman — very determined, he made things happen."

After leaving NDSCS, Zentner announced another set of plans to retire, only to begin a third career where he conducted business seminars throughout the Midwest.

"He loved to leave for the dock at Otter Tail [Lake] and look for the mighty walleye, he loved to fish, he loved nature," Zentner said. "But he also liked to stay engaged in the community. He wanted an agenda in front of him and a road map for everyday."

Although Zentner already led a busy lifestyle, after being approached in 1985 to get on board with United Way of Richland-Wilkin he enthusiastically joined, viewing it as a challenge.

"He was from a foundational belief that service, paying back and investing into the community was as natural a breathing," Zentner said. "Most of my dad's life, I think he recognized he was more richly rewarded by what he did to help others."

In short order, Zentner's leadership took hold of the organization and he put into place a plan to reorganize the club. He promoted and publicized United Way in new, creative ways and was nominated to be the executive vice president of the organization. Eight years into an adventure Zentner thought was going to be short-lived, United Way had a record year. He helped the organization raise more than $145,000.

Meredith Mitskog, a past member of United Way of Richland-Wilkin, said she remembers seeing a big change in the organization when Zentner unveiled himself as a leader.

"He did a really great job," she said. "It was sad to see them move out of Wahpeton, because I really do think he made the big turn around with United Way."

In 1995, Zentner was honored with the North Dakota Community Leadership Award, which was followed by numerous other awards, including Wahpeton Area Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award, Wahpeton Jaycees Boss of the Year and the Mark Werre Community Service Award.

Zentner's only son, David, indicated his father was a great businessman, volunteer and an even better father.

"He had a very, very strong belief in family," he said. "He was a wonderful mentor because he always impressed on me as a kid the rules are to be followed."

Zentner, a strong influence on all four of his children, was also David's baseball coach and an advocate for following the Christian faith. In their childhood years, David and his three sisters —Gretchen, Barbara and Lynn – recall spending Sunday evenings after church taking car rides in the outskirts of town.

"Dad and Mom would have sing alongs, all the oldies. Mom had a wonderful soprano voice and he was a decent tenor," Zentner said.

Although Zentner and his wife, Wilma enjoyed their time in Wahpeton, the couple moved to Duluth to be closer to their children in 1999, said Zentner.

An August 21 service is planned at the Benedictine Health Center chapel in Duluth at 1:30 p.m. All funeral arrangements are being handled by Bell Brothers and Jarvi Dowd Funeral Home, also in Duluth.

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