Local attorney marks 50-year anniversary
Mike Schuster was honored at a reception at the Clayton County Courthouse in Elkader in June for his 50-year anniversary practicing law. From left, are Zach Herrmann – present County Attorney, Kevin Clefisch – prior County Attorney, Judge Alan Heavens (back), Michael J. Schuster, Steve Saunders – prior Asst. County Attorney, Anne E.H. Kruse – present Asst. County Attorney and Clayton County Bar President, Gary Mick (back), Steve McCorkindale, and Alison Leuchtenmacher – Clayton County Bar Treasurer. (Photo submitted)
Longtime attorney Mike Schuster has recently celebrated his 50-year anniversary practicing law in Guttenberg and the surrounding area. Schuster was honored at a reception at the Clayton County Courthouse in Elkader in June.
Schuster arrived in Guttenberg in June of 1974 and began his law practice with Kevin H. Clefisch in the late L. John (Jack) Degnan office. Degnan was later appointed District Court Judge, and Mr. Clefisch left Guttenberg to open a law office in his hometown of Garnavillo, Iowa. In 1976, Attorney Gary L. Mick and Schuster associated and worked together as partners until Mr. Mick’s retirement in December 2023. Upon Attorney Mick’s retirement, Attorney Hillary J. Friedmann joined the practice which now operates as Schuster, Mick & Friedmann Law Office.
In recounting his move to Guttenberg fifty years ago, Schuster was appreciative of the warm welcome and financial support he received from the local community, including community stalwarts Irish Degnan and Neil Webster.
Schuster notes how fortunate he has been over the years to have had a great support staff, beginning with Mary Newbern, later Jan Patzner, and now Jenny DeCook, Avonique Tipsword, and Liz Jaster.
Schuster remembers a time when income tax returns were completed by hand and copies were made with carbon paper. It was the tax clients who arrived year-after-year that make up the body of four generations of clients that he has had the privilege of serving.
He is proud to be part of the Iowa Bar Association, which emphasizes professional courtesy, and ethics, is supportive, and maintains integrity. His experience with other lawyers in the Midwest is straightforward – getting to the truth, to get the job done.
Mike is a member of the Iowa and Clayton County Bar Associations. He has been the Guttenberg City Attorney since 1974, and also represents several other small cities in Northeast Iowa.
Mike has been an active member of the Guttenberg and Clayton County communities serving as an Officer and Director of both the Guttenberg Rotary Club and Guttenberg Economic Industrial Development Committee. Mike has served on the Clayton County Board of Health, the Kids Kampus Board of Directors, and the Northeast Iowa Housing Trust Fund Board of Directors. He has been a long-term member of the Clayton County Civil Service Commission.
Schuster has no plans to retire any time soon, and reports he enjoys the practice of law and working with clients.
