grave import

Obituary

William "Bill" Topping Metz, age 89, of Burlington, passed away peacefully at 5:14 PM Sunday, June 5, 2016 at the Great River Hospice House. Born September 2, 1926, in Burlington, IA. Bill was the only child of Walter Wallace and Pauline Topping Metz.
Bill was an honors graduate of Burlington High School, Class of 1944, where he made life-long friendships. He played on the varsity tennis team, and was a member of the debate team. During his sophomore year his debate team won 1st place in the state debate competition. Bill Johannsen and Bill won the state doubles tennis competition during his junior year.
Bill was a WWII U.S. Navy veteran. He boarded the USS Stentor and headed for the South Pacific. Ports of call were Okinawa, Shanghai, and Seoul South Korea. Bill achieved the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class specializing in radio and radar repair. He was honorably discharged on July 5, 1946.
That fall, Bill enrolled at the University of Iowa. He graduated in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and was a member of the Electrical Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Kappa. He received a major letter playing varsity tennis, and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. Bill met his future wife, Ruth Elizabeth Oswald, at the University of Iowa. They married summer of 1950, which marked the beginning of a 62 year loving marriage.
Bill entered law school at Iowa and graduated in 1953. He passed the Iowa Bar exam and took a job with Wagner Electric in St. Louis. In the summer in 1954, Bill and Ruth decided that big city life was not for them. They grabbed their 6 week old son John and headed home to Burlington.
More children followed. In 1957, Stephen was born and lived only 4 days. In 1958 Elizabeth was born. In 1962 Rachel was born. Bill helped rear the three children and was a devoted husband and father. One of his proudest accomplishments was sending his children to college and seeing them graduate.
With a friendship to Elmer Jackson, established by his father Walter, Bill began practicing law at the Jackson Law Firm and later became partner, forming the Jackson & Metz Law Firm. A law career spanning 40 years, Bill served as the Des Moines County Assistant Attorney, assisted the State of Iowa Attorney General in the late 1960's in building US Highway 34 through Burlington, and specialized in patents and trademarks. In the twilight of his law career he became "of counsel" to the Loeschen Law Firm.
Bill was a devout member of the Christ Episcopal Church. In 1974 he served as Senior Warden and was instrumental to the rebuilding of the church after a devastating fire, overseeing the purchasing arrangements for the historical Anglican stain glass windows from Lancaster England.
Bill was a devoted member of his community. He served as Co-Chairman of the Des Moines County Republican Party, past president of New Crystal Lake Club and was a member of the Burlington Golf Club.
Retirement came to Bill with a big smile. Ruth and he enjoyed winters in Ft. Lauderdale and summers in Burlington. They also treasured theirs travels to various parts of the world including London, Paris, Rome and Egypt. Along with 30 years of fishing trips to Canada, playing golf and rummy with his buddies and Sunday afternoon picnics at Crystal Lake, it is fair to say Bill lived a full and wonderfully blessed life. He is likely playing rummy with his friends in Heaven.
Survivors include one son, John (Heidi) Metz of Mitchellville, IA; two daughters, Elizabeth (Charles) Soechting of San Marcos, TX, Rachel (Carl Harnish) Metz of Ocala, FL; five grandchildren, Selma and William Metz, Charles Jr. (Lindsay), Ashley, and Caroline Soechting; two great-grandchildren, Emory and Charles III Soechting.
Besides his loving wife Ruth, he was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Pauline, one son, Stephen, and one grandson, Walter.
Bill's family wishes to extend a deep gratitude of appreciation to the nurses and team members of the Great River Hospice House, for their unconditional dedication to his care and comfort.
Visitation will be from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM Thursday, June 9, 2016, at Prugh's Chapel, downtown location.
The funeral service for Mr. Metz will be noon Friday, June 10, 2016, at Christ Episcopal Church with the Reverend Carl Mann officiating. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Full military honors will be rendered by the Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard. A time of food and fellowship will be held at the Burlington Golf Club following the burial.
Memorials have been established for Christ Episcopal Church or Great River Hospice.