Deputy Sheriff Ewalt Jahnz outside the west entrance of the 1871 Porter County Jail during Sheriff Lester Hineline's administration. Circa 1950s. Image courtesy of Marian Goffoli.
This story was originally written by Bradley Cole and first appeared in The Times on March 7, 2000.
KOUTS -- Porter County residents are remembering Ewalt Jahnz as an icon, who was known as much for the respect he garnered as the life of service he gave to the community.
Jahnz, 91, lived his entire life in Kouts, passed away Friday in Valparaiso.
A US. Marine Corps veteran of World War II, Jahnz served as Kouts town marshal from 1935 to 1943. When he returned from the war in 1946, he served on the Porter County Sheriff's Department for 45 years. He was also a member of Kouts Volunteer Fire Department for 60 years, serving as fire chief from 1935 to 1943.
At the time of his retirement from the Kouts Fire Department, he was honored by the state and district fire marshals for his years of service to the community.
"He was a heck of a man. He certainly broke the mold," said Butch Collinsworth, 29-year Kouts volunteer firefighter. "He was truly dedicated to helping people in this community. If anyone needed anything, he was there to help." Collinsworth also noted that in the 1930s and 1940s, Jahnz also served on the street department, in addition to his town marshal and fire chief roles.
Like Collinsworth, those who knew Jahnz remember him as a strong man who was all business when it came to the task at hand. Those same people will also remember him as a man who loved to surprise others with his strength and who had a special place in his heart for children.
"He commanded about as much respect as a man could possibly get from another man," Porter County Sheriff's Lt. Robert Herring said. "He was a big, strong man, I don't think there was a man on this department who would dare even play wrestle with him at 91 years old."
Kouts Fire Chief Don Sutter said Jahnz like to kid around, especially with the rookies.
"He used to ask the rookies if he'd shown them where the horse bit him," Sutter said. "Then he'd grab their thigh so tight, he'd darn near crush the bone. Everybody but the recipient would love it."
Porter County Sheriff David Reynolds said Jahnz had a legacy that will live on. He described him as the kind of person who does not come along very often and who will surely be missed.
Herring said Jahnz was a family man, who always put his wife, Lu Lu Mae, first.
He said Jahnz also "had a heart the size of Texas" when it came to dealing with children.
Porter County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Susan Resteau joined several others in calling Jahnz an icon.
"He has always been a special person to this department," Resteau said. "A few years after he retired from the department, we honored his 50 years of service by naming our Fraternal Order of Police Lodge after him."
Over the years, Jahnz received several awards and recognitions, including the Kouts Fireman of the Year award, which was named after him. But those who knew him best said he never sought glory or honor.
Jahnz once said in an interview with The Times, that volunteering his time to the Kouts Fire Department was something he and the others wanted to do. He said getting paid was never the ultimate reward. The ultimate reward came from helping others.
Deputy Sheriff Ewalt Jahnz (1908-2000) and turnkey Foster Ironside (1880-1960) outside the residence connected to the 1871 Porter County Jail during Sheriff Lester Hineline's administration. Circa 1950s. Image courtesy of Marian Goffoli.