Rex Metzger

Some people are blessed with perfect sight, yet never see what’s most important in life. Rex Metzger was a man who always knew. Rex was a remarkable man, a man born with limited sight, but unlimited love for his family, as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Most of all, Rex taught us that what you see is never as important as what you feel.

Rex’s story began on a cold winter day in 1935, in the bustling city of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Those were hopeful times in this country, which was beginning to claw its way out of the pit of the Great Depression. On February 1, 1935, Paul and Lillian (Lehman) Metzger celebrated the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Rex.

Rex was the oldest of the couple’s three boys, joining his little brothers Max and Ted in the family’s Kalamazoo home. Rex was born with impaired vision, though he never let that slow him down, not as a child, and certainly not as an adult.

In fact, despite being legally blind, Rex graduated from Richland High School, and even took a few college classes, too. He then began working a variety of jobs in the Kalamazoo area. He worked at West-Tab, at the Blind Institute, and at Vermeulen’s Furniture, too. Eventually, he began working as a self-employed carpet installer.

Rex’s personal life was even more rewarding, however. Rex’s friend Tom was working at the Shakespeare Company in downtown Kalamazoo, and just knew his pretty young coworker would be perfect for Rex. Her name was Doris Long, and she had recently moved to Kalamazoo from Alabama. So Tom made the introductions, and Doris agreed to go out with Rex, on one condition: they had to go someplace with a TV, so she could watch the Sonny James special!

As it turned out, though, she found something so much more special that evening, and as she says, “the rest is history.” The two began dating, fell in love, and were married on October 7, 1957.

Rex was a wonderful husband, and eventually, an amazing father, as well. The couple was soon blessed with two beautiful daughters, Donna and Debra, who filled their lives with pride and joy. When the girls came along, Rex stayed at home to raise the family, while Doris went to work at Eckrich to make ends meet.

Rex cared for the kids and the home wonderfully. He got the girls off to school every day, he did all the cooking, and Mondays were always laundry days, too. He was a great cook, and his family loved his cooking, especially his fudge and his trademark, “Lazy Housewife,” his delicious version of Shepherd’s Pie.

Rex also enjoyed caring for his yard and garden, and mowing the lawn on his John Deere was his favorite pastime. He was also an excellent gardener, and grew fabulous vegetables by the bushels.

The Metzgers did much as a family, as well. Every Friday in the summertime, Rex would hitch up the trailer after Doris got home from work, and they’d head off to their favorite campsites, either Drew’s in Holland or the state park in Grand Haven. On the way home each Sunday, they’d stop off at Dean’s Ice Cream, where Rex always got the Crème de Mint, his favorite.

Those were some of Rex’s favorite memories, favorite moments in a life so full of them. He was a very loving, honest, and gentle man, who enjoyed quiet times at home, as well. He enjoyed reading very much, and as the years progressed and his vision worsened, he began listening to books on tape, which he enjoyed.

Most of all, Rex loved being with his family, especially when his grandkids began arriving. He was a very active grandparent, and even helped raise his granddaughter Lesa, while Donna was working. Later in life, his great-grandbabies brought him so much joy, as well. Being surrounded by three generations of his family was a feeling unlike any other for Rex, the greatest feeling in the world.

Sadly, Rex died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Saturday, January 5, 2008 at Borgess Medical Center. He was 72.

Rex was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life filled with family and fond memories. He was a remarkable man, a man born with limited vision but unlimited love. More than anything, Rex was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, who taught us that what you see is never as important as what you feel. He will be so greatly missed.

Visit with Rex’s family on Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Homes, Plainwell, 120 S. Woodhams (269)685-5881 where a funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. Rex was preceded in death by his father Paul Metzger, his mother Lillian Metzger and his step-mother Lenora (Nonie) Metzger. Rex’s family include his wife Doris, his daughters Donna & Randy Cool of Kalamazoo, Debra Metzger of Kalamazoo, his grandchildren Lesa & her husband Jeff Nazarians, Bradley VanMaaren, Anthony VanMaaren, his great-grandchildren Alexis, Malayna & Cayden Nazarians, his brothers Max & Linda Metzger and Ted Metzger and many nieces & nephews. Please visit Rex’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a memory or photo, sign his memory book online or make a memorial donation to the Michigan Commission for the Blind.