2015 Lowman Award Winner

Gary Kuntz

Gary George Kuntz was born on June 30^, 1952 to George Adam Kuntz and Lillian Magdelynee Kuntz in Mandan, North Dakota. During his life living in North Dakota he had siblings Michelle in 1953, Carlotta in 1955. This is also why Gary always thought of North Dakota as his other home and over the years loved going back to the family farms and to his birthplace.

In 1956, they moved to Richmond, CA. Grandma was pregnant and had Daryl a couple months later. During their first 13 years in California they lived in both Richmond and El Sobrante. Gary along with his siblings attended St. Paul’s Catholic School in San Pablo. In 1963, he got another little brother Harlan. Gary attended DeAnza High School, where he wrestled, until he dislocated his shoulder. 

In 1969, the family moved to Jenny Lind, in Calaveras County during Gary’s Senior year of High School. Upon coming to Calaveras County they met the Newby Family, and they became close family friends.

During his time at CHS, Gary loved woodshop and made some beautiful pieces of furniture one that he still has at his home today. The Woodshop teacher fell ill, they couldn’t find a substitute teacher, so Gary took over teaching the class the rest of the year. He graduated from Calaveras High School in 1970. Gary was proud that his children all graduated from Calaveras High School and that 2 of his grandchildren graduated from CHS and another is graduating next year. He prided himself on tradition and he was proud of this one. 

Gary became a cement mason after high school and worked with family and then various other companies over the years. He loved the craft and did amazing work. 

The Newby and Kuntz families were so close that eventually Gary’s sister Michelle married Jack Newby and Gary married the eldest daughter Cindy Newby in 1973. 

Gary also bought his first house on 5 acres in 1973 before he married Cindy. During his marriage he became best friends with his Father-in-Law Dale Newby. Gary and Cindy were also active members of the Jenny Lind Rebecca’s Oddfellow Lodge. Those were the days when Jenny Lind had Homecomings and parades, big event and Gary always sat in the dunk booth, he loved that little town. 

In 1975, his oldest daughter Amy was born. Then in 1978 his second daughter Sabrina was born. They had five acres of land with an orchard, huge ½ acre of a garden. They raised pigs for 4H kids and drop calves.  Gary loved to hunt and work on his land. 

On July 17, 1982, Gary lost his beloved brother in law CHP Officer Dale E Newby. Dale died in the line of duty. This tragedy hit the family hard, but it also was the inspiration to Gary to go to school and become a law enforcement officer like he always wanted to do. Gary started taking classes at San Joaquin Delta College and his family was so proud of him, his father in law was too but was always so worried about him doing it because he had just lost his son in the line of duty. The next year was another tragedy to his family, his best friend and father in law Dale Newby died on October 29, 1983. Ironically, Gary passed away on the same day as his father in law, the same way and around the same time.   

Gary had a son, Garret in 1984. Gary would work all day doing cement work to support his family and go to school at night. Gary entered the Police Academy at Delta College and graduated in 1985. He started as a Reserve officer and extra Correctional Officer at the Calaveras County Sheriff Department. He was living his dream. He loved his job and right away he started touching peoples lives. He and Cindy divorced in 1989.

He built the home he lived in himself in 1991. He was so proud of his home because it was built with his own two hands with the help of his family. During the years of 1995 and 1998 Gary’s grandkids, Anthony, Kaylee, and Alex, were born. In 1998, Gary lost his beloved and highly respected father George Kuntz. Gary highly respected and loved his dad and always promised him he would be sheriff one day.   

He met Johanna and became friends in 1998 and they began dating in 2004. He loved Johanna very much and she was an angel. She was his rock until the day he passed. 

Through the years of 2004 and 2006, his grandsons Konnor, Jack and Keegan were born. Over the years he moved through the ranks and in 2009 was laid off from the rank of Lieutenant. Gary had been wanting to run for Sheriff because he wanted to make change and have a bigger part in the community. Everyone helped on his campaign. Gary had a grass roots campaign, he did it with family and friends and he was elected Sheriff in 2010. Also, in 2010 he got two more grandsons Jacob and Lucas. He accomplished a lot during his career and worked on many high profile cases. He re-established sheriff’s volunteer group, the promotion of the resident deputy program, the opening of the Valley Springs Substation and the completion of a new county jail. Gary co-founded the non-profit Friends of Calaveras County Sheriff Office, which he was really proud of. He belonged to various groups that were all important to him including, the Calaveras Cattlemen’s Association and the Calaveras County Chamber of Commerce, just to name a couple.  

In 2013, another grandson was born, Brodie.   Gary ran for sheriff again in 2014 and was re-elected into his second term. 

Gary was an amazing man, was the funniest person most of us have ever known.  He was more than just the Sheriff, he was someone’s partner, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and mentor. Gary was friends with everyone he met, greeted people with a handshake or hug.  He was full of integrity, honor, love and pride. He loved Calaveras County and the people of Calaveras County. He was always helping everyone, I think almost everyone in the county had his cell phone number, but that is the way he wanted it, if they needed him he was available. Gary built a legacy and was a pillar of this community, He was the “Sheriff of the People”.