Reinholt Metzger
October 23, 1923 — January 9, 2017
Reinholt “Blackie” Metzger, age 93 years formerly of Niles, Michigan died Monday evening, January 9, 2017 at Elkhart (Indiana) General Hospital following a brief illness.
He was born on October 23, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois to Alex and Amelia Metzger. The Metzger family moved to a mint farm near New Carlisle, Indiana where he was raised and graduated from high school. He joined the United States Army, served in the Military Police at the Nuremberg Trials, and was honorably discharged as Veteran of World War II. He was employed by the Niles Post Office as a rural route carrier most of his life.
Reinholt enjoyed bowling and playing table tennis.
On Labor Day, September 2, 1948 he married the former Gay North with whom he celebrated the forty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on October 29, 1994. They were sadly preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tracie Allen in 1987, and by Reinholt’s siblings, Robert, Theresa, and Alex; a niece, Carolyn Metzger; and June’s son Dennis Vaughn.
On April 20, 1999 he married the former Iris June Carrick Vaughn, who survives. Also surviving are his son, Reinholt (& Joni) Metzger of Granger, Indiana; grandchildren Michael (& Taffy) Metzger and Kristin (& Jason) Cronkhite; great-grandchildren Elizabeth, Benjamin, and Juliet; a niece, Catherine Metzger; and June’s family including a daughter, Kathy Dolshenko who has helped provide care to Reinholt and June.
The funeral service for Reinholt Metzger will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 16, 2017 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating. The service will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Army Honor Guard. Committal will follow at Mission Hills.
The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home.