Richard P. Mettler

Richard P. Mettler, of Albion, Ind., died Monday, March 26, 2018 following a three-year battle with cancer. Rick was the fourth child of R. Donald and Carroll (Bartholomy) Mettler, born November 9, 1944, in Fort Wayne. He attended Our Lady of the Lake Seminary at Lake Wawasee and graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1963. He attended the Fort Wayne School of Art prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in January of 1964. Rick served in the 1st Marine Division FMF, the "Magnificent" 7th Marine Regiment in Vietnam from May 1965 to June 1966; he was honorably discharged in 1968. He is survived by his wife, Beth McMahon. They were married on August 19, 1972, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fort Wayne.

Following his Marine Corps service, Rick worked at Fort Wayne Spring Service, Diamond Enterprises, and Zumbrun Construction. He attended Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in Troy, OH on the G.I. Bill then went to (ESP) Engineered Structural Products until 1982. Rick was with Lawrence Construction for 24 years, retiring in November 2006. He was certified by the American Welding Society D1.1 Structural Welding - Steel.

Rick was easily recognized in area bars and taverns by his great grin and trademark beard (in the shape of his welding helmet). He never met a stranger - he was easy-going and hard pushed to say a bad word about anyone. Rick enjoyed riding motorcycles when he was a young man, annoying the neighbors on Florida Drive with his early models. He went deer hunting as a boy with his father and brothers, and made his last climb into a tree stand in the fall of 2016, with his oxygen tank. Rick and Beth enjoyed fishing and being anywhere near water, retiring to their dream home on High Lake in 2006. They bred, raised, and showed Hungarian Vizslas. Gypsy, Countess II, Zeke, Annie, Ruby, and Seeker were exceptional dogs and included in family gatherings.

Rick could fix anything; and if he couldn't, it wasn't worth fixing. His gifts of plant stands, lawn ornaments, and toilet paper and log holders cut from I-beams and shaped from 1/2" round iron are cherished family heirlooms.

Wherever he was, there was music - from Santo & Johnny to Pasty Cline to Sarah Brightman, Blues to Gospel - and he loved hearing Beth's wonderful singing.

He is also survived by siblings Michael, Stephen, Connie, Anne Marie, and Meg Mettler. Rick was the Favorite Uncle of Jennifer Mettler Vincent, Stephen P. Mettler, Scott Fedewa, Elizabeth Mettler, Brian Carroll Mettler, Corey Mettler, Donald Mettler, Jeffrey Mettler, Jonathan Fedewa, Abigail and Emily Mettler Pfister, R. Jacob and Nicholas Steffen; and great-uncle to 24 Mettler descendants. He was equally cherished by his "out-laws:" Kathy Sharp, Kathy Weidl Mettler and Dick Pfister. Also, sisters-in-law Anne McMahon Dickerson and Lynn McMahon McClaine; nephews Todd and Drew Dickerson; four great-nieces and -nephews; two great-great-nieces; and one great-great-nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents; and parents-in-law Cyril M. "Zeke" and Doris (Parnell) McMahon, of Montgomery Co.

Rick will additionally be greatly missed by his many friends, bar buddies, and High Lake and Central Drive neighbors. Beth and the Mettler family are very grateful to Debbie Tucker, RN of Parkview-Whitley Hospice for her care and comfort during the past year.

Visitation is 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, March 30, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home and his burial will follow at Covington Memorial Gardens. Memorial gifts may be given in his memory to the Honor Flight or Parkview Whitley Home Health Care and Hospice. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send family condolences.