Former Police Chief Howard Zins 1943-2019

NEW ULM — A number of local police and military veterans on Friday fondly recalled Howard Zins, a former New Ulm Police Chief and 26-year Minnesota National Guard retiree and Command Sergeant Major.

A New Ulm native, Zins, 75, died Wednesday at his home. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home and Tuesday at the funeral home, one hour prior to the service. Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, New Ulm. Burial will be in Swan Lake Cemetery.

“I always admired him. I thought he was a good policeman. He earned his stripes to become chief,” said former New Ulm Mayor Carl “Red” Wyczawski. “I liked him. He worked well with the rest of the department.”

Wyczawski said other New Ulm Police Chiefs always felt good about him.

Retired New Ulm Police officer Paul Kalow described Zins in detail.

“He was a great chief and a true patriot. He loved our country, he respected our country and our laws,” Kalow said. “He made decisions to the best of his ability. At times he was not concerned about what public opinion might be. His decisions were based on what he thought was the best way to handle something.”

Retired New Ulm Police officer Ron Traurig said Zins was “very military, studied hard to advance, was a good trooper and went hunting, fishing and trapping with many friends.”

New Ulm Police Dept. Senior Investigator Jeff Hohensee said he worked with Howard for more than 20 years.

“He was by far the most competent chief I worked for. He was well respected and had excellent leadership skills,” Hohensee said. “Young officers would gravitate to him. He ran his shifts in a military style. We became friends and went on hunting and fishing trips. I’m honored to have known the man. He’s one of the people who inspired me in law enforcement and as a friend. He was a great role model. A lot of people benefited from his leadership. He’ll be missed.”

Hohensee said the German American Police Program (GAPP) met in January at Howard’s house.

“All the officers came out. We talked about the trips with the Germans,” Hohensee said. “He had lots of friends in Germany. Some of them even came all the way here to visit him when they heard he was sick.”

Retired soldier Vern Rubey of New Ulm, who served 38 years in the military, said Zins “was a top-notch soldier, making Command Sergeant Major, the top enlisted rank in the Army.”

Vern’s son Pat Rubey, who served 28 years in the military, called Howard “a very, very good leader of men, very honest. He never had a bad word to say about anybody. Everyone looked up to him. They’d follow him anywhere. I’ll miss him. He was a good friend to a lot of people.”

Zins was a member of the International Police Association, The American Legion, Turner Hall, the New Ulm Area Sport Fishermen, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).

fbusch@nujournal.com