Robert Siegesmund Metzger Obituary
Robert "Bob" Siegesmund Metzger, age 80, of Fairfax, Virginia, passed away from cancer on July 7, 2017 while in hospice care at the Adler Center in Aldie. He was surrounded by loving family members during his final days. He is survived by his wife, Anne Metzger, of 60 years; their three children, Susan Foose, John Metzger, Heidi Baumstark; eight grandchildren, Kristin Jeffcoat, Jenny Foose, Steve Taufenegger, Andrew Metzger, and Jonathan, Luke, Michael, and Michaela Baumstark; two brothers, Arthur Metzger of Tennessee and Reinhold Metzger of California.
Originally named "Siegesmund Metzger," Bob was born in 1937 in Germany. The family survived World War II and made a life in Travemünde, a borough of Lübeck, Germany. In November 1955, his mother, father, and two younger brothers immigrated to the United States to make a new life. On June 15, 1957, he married Anne who was from Austria, who he met at a German dance in the D.C. area.
Then, came the children, Susan, John, and Heidi. He was a loving husband, father, and Opa (grandfather) who was always expressing sincere gratitude for his family. Bob was a hard-working provider managing the body shop of H.B. Lantzsch in Fairfax. The Metzgers lived in Maryland until 1970 when they then moved to Fairfax. The family began attending St. Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in the late '70s.
He became involved in the church and was inspired to show love to everyone, starting with his family, and then to friends, neighbors, and strangers. He volunteered at Fairfax Jail to visit brokenhearted prisoners. For 14 years, he was a hospice volunteer with Capital Caring--the same hospice organization that he was cared for in his last days.
Meylan, a man with physical challenges, was another one whose life was blessed by my parents taking him to mass Sunday mornings. He also loved gardening and nature, and carefully tended to his flower and vegetable garden behind his house. Bob's heart of love, grace, mercy, and compassion touched so many. We are grateful for his legacy.
And we are all better because he lived.
