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SHERIFFS OF MONTCALM COUNTY
1850 to 2006


WALTER HIRAM ARNTZ
Sheriff from 1941-1950




Walter Hiram "Heinie" Arntz was born in Greenville July 18, 1901 to William A. and Samantha May Burt Arntz. He was a Greenville tavern operator, member of the Republican state central committee and secretary of the Montcalm County Republican committee. He also served as a member of the Greenville city council for six years. During the Primary election of 1940 he entered the race for sheriff but later withdrew when he learned Chris Hansen would seek another term in that office. When Chris Hansen announced his resignation as sheriff of Montcalm County on September 2, 1941 a committee consisting of Probate Judge William E. Rasmussen, Prosecuting Attorney C. Homer Miel and County Clerk Arthur J. Montgomery met to appoint a replacement to fill the remaining term of Sheriff Hansen. This committee felt it was of prime importance that the new sheriff should come from Greenville. So on October 1, 1941 Walter H. Arntz, 40 years of age, was appointed to succeed Chris Hansen. In a press release the committee stated, "He is young enough to be a good sheriff; he is old enough to be a good sheriff; and he's from Greenville."

Walter served 8 years as sheriff and another 15 years, from 1950 to 1965, as deputy sheriff for Kent County. He was also a member of the Stanton Lodge No. 250 F & AM, Sigma Theta Shrine Unit of Grand Rapids and was past president of the Michigan Sheriff's Association. He was first married to the former Mabel L. Briggs and was later married, on February 2, 1970, in Palmetto, Florida, to Mildred Edith Woodhouse Wolverton. Walter died at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, November 9, 1976 and is buried at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens, Ionia County.

(Sources: Stanton Clipper-Herald, 9-5-1941; Greenville Daily News-Belding Banner, 11-9-1976; One World Tree, Montcalm County death records and marriage records)



SHERIFFS OF MONTCALM COUNTY
compiled by Stanton area resident Judy Hardy

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