Jesse Garrold Metzger

Jesse (Papa) G. Metzger, 95, departed this life on December 23 at Bloomington Hospital. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was born on August 1, 1920 one of three sons of William Frederick Metzger II and his wife, Mable (Bagshaw) in Henryville, Indiana.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Leslie, and his three sister Sue, Fay and Mary. He is survived by his brother Wesley. The love of his life Norma Ruth Bengel preceded him in death November 2, 2012. Together they had four children: Michael (Virginia) of Bloomington, William F. III (Caroline) of Aurora, Colorado, Deborah Marie Prickett (Larry) of Brownsburg, and Mark Douglass (Trinda) of Indianapolis. He is survived by his grandchildren: C.J. (April), Aaron, Ashley, Nick (Megan), Alex, Zach, Eric (Katie), Lauren, and five great grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Courtney, Audrey, McKenna and Morgan.

Prior to WWII, Jesse was an art student at Central Normal University School of Art in Danville. Determined to find a lucrative career, Jesse switched to IU to take courses in Math and Science. He had always wanted to be a teacher, an honorable profession. When hostilities broke out during the WWII era, he and his best friend John Dixon, enlisted to serve their nation. He and John enrolled in a pilot prep course in Louisville to pass testing for the Army Air Corp. They both passed and joined the Army Air Corp. John Dixon was shot down and died over France. Jesse served in the 459th Fighter Squadron of the Army Air Corps from 5/13/42 until honorably discharged on 1/12/46 in India and Burma. After returning home, he used the G.I. Bill to attend Indiana University, from which he ultimately received a Bachelors, Masters, and Specialist degrees in Education. He spent several semesters living in the trailers for the married GI’s across from the stadium at IU with baby Michael and Norma. Teaching high school Math and Physics at Jeffersonville High School was admittedly his favorite job. He was soon promoted to Correlator of studies, and then was principal of the High School. From there, he accepted the post of Assistant Superintendent of Warren Township Schools in Indianapolis, a post he held until his retirement in 1980. During his adult years he was Chairman of the American Red Cross and spent several years teaching Sunday school. An avid gardener, in Indianapolis he farmed vegetables, grew roses and took care of the horses his wife kept in their small barn on their two acres. Retirement for Jesse led to a full time move to Lake Lemon where Jesse bought a new lake house to renovate for his wife and family. At age 60, after selling his Indy home and his first Lake Lemon lake house that was built from a concrete foundation with the help of his sons and wife, he spent their first retirement years rebuilding the concrete shell of his second lake home. He lived on Lake Lemon until a year ago. His favorite activities were gardening with Norma, visiting Charleston SC, and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Papa was famous for his waffle breakfasts, playing cards with the kids, driving the ski boat, grilling burgers and steak, and showing off their perennial large garden. He had a special pride for his roses and orange poppies. He was quiet man who became uncharacteristically talkative after the loss of his wife. All dearly loved him, and all that knew him will miss him.

Visitation will be at 10 am followed by the funeral service at 11 am on Monday December 28, 2015 at the Day & Deremiah-Frye Funeral Home, 4150 East Third Street, Bloomington, Indiana. Interment will follow in Henryville Indiana.