| By Neil Johnson, reporter/anchor, Big Radio |

Local pet owners and colleagues say they’re mourning the death of prominent Janesville veterinarian Steve Servantez, a man they say led with his whole heart in his life as an animal doctor.

News of Servantez death came in a Facebook post published Friday by Badger Veterinary Hospitals, the chain of animal clinics that Servantez had co-owned and operated Janesville, Beloit and Cambridge since 1991.

Veterinarian Scott Spaulding, Servantez’s longtime business partner, says Servantez was on vacation in Belize when he died suddenly on Thursday of natural causes apparently brought on by underlying heart disease.

He was 61.

Spaulding describes Servantez as a tireless animal doctor who was happiest when he was at work helping animals and their owners. He said Servantez should be remembered as a great and kind veterinarian who loved animals of all kinds — but also as a deeply committed humanitarian who championed local nonprofits and helped thousands of at-risk and abandoned animals.

In 2009, Servantez was one a few who spearheaded Friends of Noah, a nonprofit animal adoption network. It was when Rock County was reeling from the closure of Janesville’s General Motors assembly plant.

Spaulding said Servantez, and his spouse, Julie Servantez, poured themselves into volunteer roles within the nonprofit, helping form a network of temporary and permanent owners for thousands of abandoned pets at a time when countless, out-of-work Rock County families were losing their homes.

Badger Vet’s Facebook post calls Servantez’s impact on his colleagues and clients “profound,” and says he was “wholeheartedly devoted” to his profession, colleagues, animals, and family.

Spaulding said Servantez was an incurable practical joker, a faithful business partner and a man who lived to make healing connections with humans and their pets.

One commenter on Badger Vet’s Facebook post writes: “Dr. Servantez was the absolute best. I have never met a more caring and compassionate doctor. He took care of all our fur babies — even coming to our home to do so.”

The Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin in Janesville wrote in a separate Facebook post that as a longtime board member of the nonprofit agency, Servantez was instrumental in helping guide plans and designs for the Humane Society’s new Janesville animal shelter.

The Humane Society wrote in the post that Servantez spent countless hours helping Humane Society vets at the pet shelter, saying “he was known for rolling up his sleeves and helping out at a moment’s notice.”

One commenter, a client of Servantez at Badger Vet, wrote: “He will be missed by so many humans and pets.”

Servantez hosted an occasional radio call-in show, “Ask a Vet,” on WCLO.