Edward B. Retzer

Superior Police Department — Superior, WI

Cardiac

End of Watch May 16, 1963

Age 58

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

The Vigil Panel 98 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Squadman Edward Retzer suffered a fatal heart attack as he and other officers attempted to stop a vehicle wanted by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

He collapsed as he stepped from his patrol car at the intersection of East Second Street and Sixth Avenue. A firefighter attempted to revive him by performing CPR but was unsuccessful.

Squadman Retzer had served with the Superior Police Department for 18 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and three sons, three grandchildren, and four siblings.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-WI-35778915
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Squadman Retzer gave the Superior Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Superior community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Squadman Retzer.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Superior Police Department

Location Superior, WI

Platform Identity spd.douglas.wi.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 16, 1963

Tour of Duty 18 yrs

Age 58

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

Squadman Edward B. Retzer is one of 1,306 officers lost to cardiac events in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 4% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In WI, 23 of 317 officers were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 7.3% of this state's fallen. That is 3.3 percentage points above the national rate of 4%.

At Superior Police Department, 1 of 6 officers on record were lost to cardiac events in the line of duty — 16.7% of this agency's fallen.

Superior Police Department

of 6 officers

16.7% Cardiac

WI — Statewide

of 317 officers

7.3% Cardiac

Nationwide

1,306

of 32,508 officers

4% Cardiac