Alice Marie Metzger

Rock Rapids, IA

     Alice Metzger, age 93, of Rock Rapids, IA, formerly of Alvord, IA died on Sunday, February 9, 2020 at Lyon Specialty Care in Rock Rapids.

     Funeral service will be 10:00 AM, Thursday, February 13^th at the Apostolic Christian Church in Lester, IA. Visitation will begin one hour prior to service at the church on Thursday morning.

     Burial will follow at the church cemetery.

     Visitation will be Wednesday, February 12^th with family present from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and again at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Apostolic Christian Church Fellowship Hall in Lester, IA.

     Alice Marie Banwart was born February 14, 1926 in West Bend, Iowa, the daughter of Paul P. and Elizabeth (Benninger) Banwart. She was raised on the family farm one mile east of West Bend and attended the community school. She graduated from West Bend High School in 1944 and then worked for several years as an office assistant at West Bend Elevator.

     On September 10, 1948 Alice was united in marriage to Eli Benjamin Metzger at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. They lived on a farm north of Lester, IA until 1964 when they moved to a farm north of Alvord, IA. Along with helping with the day to day operation of the farm; Alice managed the Lester Gas & Go and then was office manager for Gage Trucking in Lester. In later years she worked at Valley Pharmacy in Rock Valley, IA and lastly, she managed at the Alvord Food Stop.

     In 1993 Alice and Eli retired from farming and moved into Alvord, IA. On July 13, 2005 her husband, Eli died unexpectedly. She remained living in Alvord and stayed busy with church and community activities. She was a member of the Apostolic Christian Church in Lester, IA. She enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening and singing. She was an avid reader and especially enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

     In April of 2015 Alice entered Lyon Specialty Care after suffering injuries from a fall at her home. She remained there until this past Sunday, February 9, 2020, when she died at the age of 93.

     She is survived by her children, Cynthia and her husband, Bob Leuthold of Lester, IA, Paul and his wife, Delores Metzger of Alvord, IA, Bruce and his wife, Harriet Metzger of Alvord, IA, Jack and his wife, Sue Ellen Metzger of Ankeny, IA and Joseph and his wife, Kristi Metzger of Bella Vista, AR; fifteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; a sister, Lela Banwart of West Bend, IA; two brothers, Paul Jr and his wife, Emmy Banwart of Casa Grande, AZ, and Robert and his wife, Kay Banwart of Ruthven, IA; two sisters-in-law, Ada Banwart of Mediapolis, IA and Betty Banwart of West Bend, IA; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

     She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Elizabeth Banwart; her husband of fifty-six years, Eli B. Metzger; five brothers, Art, Elmer, Edwin, Arnold and Benji Banwart; four sisters, Clara Anliker, Miriam Frieden, Leona Wulf and Esty Metzger.