William (Tiny) Zehnder Jr., a farm boy whose foresight and business savvy helped put Frankenmuth on the map as the state's chicken dinner capital and one of its top tourist attractions, died of heart failure Tuesday at his home in Frankenmuth. He was 87.

The Bavarian Inn restaurateur is considered the driving force behind the town's transformation from a rural municipality into Michigan's Little Bavaria.

Each year millions of visitors journey to Frankenmuth with one objective: enjoying one of the town's famous chicken meals.

"He was an exceptional role model as a father, a business executive and community leader," said his son, William Zehnder, president of the Bavarian Inn. "He was a very persistent person who had lots of stamina and always exhibited great love for people, whether they were customers or team members."

A resident of Frankenmuth his entire life, Mr. Zehnder was one of eight children. In 1927, his father, a farmer, purchased the abandoned Exchange Hotel on Main Street and renamed it Zehnder's Hotel. The family moved in, becoming the business's staff. They washed dishes, butchered chickens, cooked and waited tables.

Mr. Zehnder graduated from Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw in 1937. Four years later, at age 22, he became general manager at Zehnder's, as well as cultivating 180 acres.

Two years later, he married his wife, Dorothy, a waitress at Fisher's Union House, a hotel across the street from Zehnder's. He met her while sifting through garbage from Fisher's to feed the hogs on his farm.

At the time, Fisher's served family style chicken dinners, piled high on platters, along with generous bowls of mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, chicken noodle soup, vegetables and bread. Occasionally, customers lined up outside the door.

Recognizing an opportunity, the Zehnder family purchased Fisher's in 1950, and Mr. Zehnder became part owner and manager. His wife became the kitchen manager, a job she still holds at age 84.

In the mid-50s, Mr. Zehnder came up with the idea of adopting a Bavarian theme for Fisher's. He took out a loan, remodeled the facility and changed the name to the Bavarian Inn.

The grand opening was celebrated in 1959 with German entertainment, bratwurst, beer and pretzels. Eventually, it became known as the Annual Bavarian Festival, which is still celebrated.

Realizing that reputation for good food alone was not enough to sustain the business, Mr. Zehnder introduced other attractions throughout the restaurant. He was instrumental in building the Glockenspiel Tower and the wooden covered bridge across the Cass River.

"He was also a very giving person. He gave his ideas and advice, as well as countless charitable gifts to the community," said Wally Bronner, 79, a longtime friend and originator of Bronner's Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth.

Mr. Zehnder actively promoted and advertised Frankenmuth and affectionately earned the moniker among its residents as Mr. Frankenmuth. He resigned in 2004. His wife and children now operate the business.

In addition to his wife and son, survivors include daughters Judith Zehnder Keller and Roxie Westgate; a brother; a stepsister, and 10 grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Cederberg Funeral Home of Frankenmuth, 590 N. Franklin St.

Funeral services are at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, 140 Churchgrove, Frankenmuth. As is customary in Frankenmuth, the burial will precede the service. It will be in St. Lorenz Cemetery.

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