The National Day of Listening can be celebrated any time someone with a story to tell has a receptive listener. In the 1930s and early 1940s Walter Metzger spent a good share of his youth visiting the Seeger family that lived in this Old West Side home. Metzger (center) tells stories about that time in his life to his wife, Ruth, and current home owner Rob Hoffman.
Obituary
Metzger, Walter Walter S. Metzger passed away on October 17, 2014. He was born to German immigrant parents William and Maria Lamparter Metzger in the family home on West Liberty Street in Ann Arbor on May 16, 1926. Walter was the second son of William and Maria. During his school days he was proud of earning his letter in baseball. Walter was a lover of classical and band music. He was honored to play in the trombone in the University of Michigan Marching band in 1943. He graduated from Ann Arbor High school and in May of 1944 he enlisted in the United States Navy. He served as a signalman on board the USS Sentry AM299, a minesweeper in the South Pacific during WWII. His ship swept 436 mines and received six battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation. After discharge from the Navy Walter joined his parents in the family restaurant. In 1949 while visiting relatives in Germany he met the love of his life, Ruth Ebinger, who was teaching school in the village of Wilhemsdorf, the same village from which Walter's family came. After a long distance courtship Walter returned to Germany in 1950 and he and Ruth were married in the village of Erbstetten, near Stuttgart. Her father, the Rev. Ernst Ebinger performed the Wedding ceremony in the 350-year-old church of which he was the pastor. Walter brought his bride home to the U.S. and they were married for over 60 years before Ruth went to be with the Lord on June 18th 2010. Walter owned and operated Metzger's German Restaurant until he semi-retired in 1990 and then fully retired in 1999. Walters's great first love was his family and he was also proud to keep the tradition of the Metzger family restaurant, which is now owned and operated by son John Metzger. In both the restaurant and in his church Walter developed long-lasting friendships, which he enjoyed to this day. Walter is survived by his four children, Fred (Laurie) Metzger, Susan (Edward) Dunkelberger, John Metzger, and Heidi (Jim) Henderson as well as seven grandchildren Ryan (Kari) Dunkelberger, Lindsay (Frank) Mitchell, Adam Metzger, Elise (Mathew) Snapper, William (Zhanar) Metzger, Kristen (Jorge) Carral, and Mitchell Henderson. A joyful addition to his life was his four great-grandchildren, Elias Metzger, Jackson Mitchell, Avery Snapper, and Jorge Carral. Walter was preceded in death by Ruth, his parents, and his brother, Hans. Walter was a member of St Paul's Lutheran Church and also the Schwaben Verein. A memorial service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church 420 West Liberty Street on Wednesday October 22, 2014 with a visitation starting at 9:30 and a service at 11:00. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran School 495 Earhart Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 or to Arbor Hospice 2366 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Please visit Walter's tribute page at www.niefuneralhomes.com
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