Vinton Jerry Margretz

Waterloo Police Department — Waterloo, IA

Veteran → Accident

End of Watch June 7, 1925

Age 26

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

The Vigil Panel 49 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Military Department 7

Incident

Patrolman Vinton Margretz was killed in a motorcycle crash on Reber Avenue, near Marsh Street, while responding to a call. He was thrown from the motorcycle and sustained serious injuries. He was transported to Presbyterian Hospital, where he died approximately one hour later. Patrolman Margretz was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War I. He had served with the Waterloo Police Department for a total of about 2 years on two separate occasions.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-IA-8F055512
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps. One record, 2 gates. Vinton is one person.

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Tributes

I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman Margretz gave the Waterloo Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Waterloo community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Waterloo Police Department

Type Police Department

Location Waterloo, Black Hawk County, IA

Platform Identity wpd.blackhawk.ia.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 7, 1925

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 26

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Vinton Jerry Margretz served in the U.S. Marine Corps before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Patrolman Vinton Jerry Margretz is one of 1 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,759 officers honored here.

In IA, 71 of 226 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 31.4% of this state's fallen. That is 31.4 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Waterloo Police Department, 2 of 8 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.

Waterloo Police Department

of 8 officers

25% Accident

IA — Statewide

of 226 officers

31.4% Accident

Nationwide

of 97,759 officers

0% Accident