METZGER, John "Johnny" 1921-2014
METZGER, MARTIE, HOWARD, MAURER, BRONSON, BISHOP, WOODSON, SWENSON HAGENOW, SYHARATH, SHERWOOD, MACKEN, HIATT, DAHLIN, MOORE, GRIMM
Posted By: Connie L. Ellis (email)
Date: 5/22/2018 at 09:55:40
SOURCE: Funeral brochure Burnham-Wood Funeral Home, West Union, Iowa
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)John "Johnny" Metzger passed away on March 9, 2014 at Palmer Lutheran Hospital, West Union, Iowa. Funeral services were held on March 15, 2015 with burial interment in the Pleasant Grove Cemetery, rural West Union. Officiating was Rusty Phillips.
Johnny was born on June 1, 1921 to George and Louisa (Martie) Metzger rural Elgin, Iowa. He attended school at Lime Kiln Country School rural Elgin. He married Viola Howard on May 1, 1942 at the parsonage of the First Baptist Church, Elgin, Iowa. Six children were born to them. John farmed and drove livestock truck for his brother Ervin at Metzger Livestock. He also worked at Hygrade Meat Packing Plant in Postville, Iowa. In 1954 he started working for Interstate Power Company, West Union working with the crew. He was employed there until retirement in 1984. He also had a tree cutting business with Bob Hanson, Elkader, Iowa during those years.
In 1966 John and his son, Steve, started the Metzger Bait Shop in West Union which he was still running out of his home in Clermont, Iowa until 2013. Johnny mowed lawns for the elderly in Clermont until the age of 90. John's passion was coon hunting, trapping, deer hunting and fishing. He loved telling stories of his childhood, playing cards with his friends and family. John especially loved spending time with his grandchildren. John also showed coon hounds and served as vice president of the Northeast Iowa Coon Hunters Association. John was willing to lend a helping hand at all times.
John is survived by his children: Darlene (Lowell) Maurer of Fairbank, Iowa, Diane Bronson of Waterloo, Iowa, JoAnn (Neal) Bishop of Clermont, Steven (Cynthia) Metzger, also of Clermont, Marlene (Craig) Woodson of Hawkeye, Iowa, and Carol (Marti) Swenson of Clermont; there are 12 grandchildren: Brenda (Maurer)and spouse Randy Hagenow, Dean Maurer, Jon Bronson, Darin (Jodi) Bronson, Nanette (Bronson) and spouse Johnny Syharath, Don (Sheri) Bishop, Jeff Bishop, JoDee (Bishop) and spouse Bernie Sherwood, Jenny (Metzger) and spouse Dan Macken, Kristi (Metzger) and spouse Travis Hiatt, Brock (Maya) Swenson and Alesha Swenson; 19 great-grandchildren: Tarissa and Grant Hagenow, Aaron and Ian Dahlin, Preston, Parker, and Delaney Bronson, Maddy, Malia, and Morgan Bronson, Anna and Ashton Syharath, Trevor and Trey Hiatt, Victoria and Brianna Bishop, Asami Clark and Samantha Sherwood, and Lily Swenson in addition to several nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents; wife Viola; granddaughter Dody (Bronson) Dahlin; son-in-law Bing Bronson; brothers Ervin (Ruth) Metzger, Eli (Marcella) Metzger, Noah Metzger and an infant brother Elmer Metzger; sisters Sarah (Orville) Moore and Katie (Paul) Grimm.
Honorary casketbearers were his six granddaughters Brenda, Nanette, JoDee, Jenny, Kristi, and Alesha and the casket bearers were his six grandsons Dean, Jon, Darin, Don, Jeff, and Brock. The family wrote the following tribute which best described their father and grandfather:
Johnny won't stand on the riverbank anymore. He won't tell anymore fisherman's tales. He won't cast his rod again and though his creel may be empty our eyes today are filled with tears. We think he would be surprised if he saw so many people gathered here today. John, was, after all a quiet man. He loved the solitude of nature. It wouldn't occur to him he was so popular, that he will be missed so much. John with his characteristic half smile and pipe clenched in his mouth was five feet six inches, strong and lean from a lifetime of hard work. Rare was the day he wasn't working.
John's passion was coon hunting. He didn't hunt for fortune or fame. He would tell you, it's a passion and the rush you get when you turn those dogs loose and when you hear that first strike on the trail. He would prepare for the long night hunt, bundled up in his long underwear, jeans, flannel shirts, waders, and headlamp with his coffee, thermos, and candy loaded in the front seat. Whether it was his dog Susie, Pedro, Jake, Jody, Chief, Molly, or Sport they were waiting for John to load them in the old truck. After the night's hunt the hunters loaded the dogs and coons bursting with pride. On the way home with his sons, son-in-laws, friends, or grandson, they would ask him, "How many coon have you shot in your life?" or "Can you tell me your best coon hunt?"
A million or more nightcrawlers were picked up by Johnny. For 48 years he prodded the ground with his homemade electric rods and ice cream pail filled with half dirt. On a good night he said he could pick 1,000 an hour. He was still prodding those nightcrawlers at the age of 90.
John you see, did his good deeds by stealth. He never advertised the fact that he helped so many people in different ways. He will be missed by all!
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