Donald Metzger

Donald Everett Metzger passed away at Millers in Culver on July 22, 2017 at the age of ninety-nine years and eight months.

He was born in Syracuse, Indiana on November 9, 1917, the son of David W. and Ella Pha (Woods) Metzger. The family later moved to Goshen and a sister, Mary was born.  Don started school in Goshen but in 1925 the family moved to Kewanna, Indiana.  Here he continued his education and in high school played basketball and baseball for four years as well as running track.  After graduation in 1935, he went to work for the Standard Elevator in Kewanna. He helped to build the elevator in Monon riding there with his father and the other workers.  Don continued his baseball playing on a local team as well as being a sub on teams from Winamac and Logansport.  He even played against Ted Williams in a game during WWII.  An opportunity to try out for the Chicago White Sox was available but jobs were hard to get in the Depression so he passed on the opportunity.

On October 6, 1940 he married the love of his life, Geneva W. Lemmon at the Methodist church in Kewanna.  Five children were born of this union: Karen Sue, Avondale, PA.; Donald Gene, Rochester; Robert Dale, (Rosa) Rochester; Diane Kay, who died after a month of life; and Thomas Dean, (Mary Lou) Palatine, IL.  Seven grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren blessed the lives of Don and Geneva in the sixty four years of their marriage.  Geneva passed away on May 19, 2005.

In September of 1949 Don became the general manager of the Fulton Co. Farm Bureau Co-op and in October, the family moved from Kewanna to Clay Street in Rochester.  In 1958 Don purchased forty acres west of Rochester and later added another forty.  The family moved to Goshen when he was hired as general manager of the Elkhart Co. Farm Bureau Co-op in June of 1962.  Don retired after a total of thirty three years as a manager and moved back to Rochester building a house on the eighty acres in 1979.  He did work on the house himself after helping Don Woolington’s construction company build the frame and roof.

Don served as a member of and later chief of the Kewanna Volunteer Fire Department; served as a volunteer on the Rochester Elementary School; served as a trustee for the Grace Methodist Church and Methodist Church in Goshen; served on the Fulton Co. Fair Board; was a volunteer for the Cancer Society; a member of the Lions Club; was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for 75 years; he had a rare “O” blood type so he gave blood as often as possible, giving over 8 gallons; he served as a red coat at Woodlawn Hospital.  He loved his farm where he raised corn and beans as well as Herford cattle.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Geneva and infant daughter Diane.  He leaves behind a sister Mary Renkenberger (Bob); children, Karen, Don, Bob (Rosa), Tom (Mary Lou); 7 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.  He was the person the family looked to for help and will be greatly missed by all.

His funeral will be on Friday, July 28 at eleven o’clock at the Harrison-Metzger & Rans Funeral Home in Kewanna.  Visitation is on Thurs. July 27 from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home where an Independent Order of Odd Fellows ceremony will be observed at 7 p.m. Burial will be at the Kewanna IOOF Cemetery.  Memorials may be sent to Mt. Hope Methodist Church, 7022 W 700 N, Culver, IN 46511 or to the Kewanna Alumni Association, care of Robert Clyde, P.O. Box 92, Kewanna, IN. 46939

Please sign the online guest book or leave condolence for the Metzger family at www.ransfuneralhomes.com.