Lydia Metzler

Lydia Metzler, the daughter of Peter and Wilhelmine (Weimer) Beyer, was born on January 31, 1928, in Ehringshausen, Germany and went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 10, 2017, at the Calvin Community Care Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 89 years, 6 months, and 9 days.
She grew up during the hard times of World War II. Her father owned and operated a general store and a tailor shop out of their home. He also had goats, cows, chickens and a garden. Lydia attended school through the eighth grade then worked as a clerk in the store, helped with making hay and carrying milk from the field to the store. Lydia survived many bombing raids from American planes and experienced the pain of seeing her brothers go off to war. In 1948, she met her soon to be husband Werner just after he was released from a Russian POW camp.
On October 7, 1950, she was united in marriage to Werner Martin Metzler in Ehringshausen, Germany. They boarded a ship for America in December of 1953 with their first son Edgar and lived with Lydia’s parents Peter and Wilhelmine Beyer in Audubon, Iowa. In April of 1954 their second son Norbert was born in Audubon, IA. In June of 1954, Werner, Lydia and the boys moved to Chicago, Illinois where they resided until 1957 when they moved to Des Moines, IA. In October 1958, their 3rd son Timothy was born and on December of 1962 their daughter Jane was born. Lydia, Werner and their children made numerous trips to Audubon to visit her parents Peter and Wilhelmine. Many good memories were made in those days. Lydia was a stay at home mom while her husband worked hard to learn the language and to support the family. Lydia accepted the Lord Jesus as her personal Savior when she was a child at a gospel meeting when the invitation was made to come to Christ. Lydia attended the Plymouth Brethren Assembly which met in the home of Paul Heuss Sr. Lydia enjoyed a simple life style. She loved being outdoors, enjoying the scent of the pine trees, viewing the beautiful mountains of Colorado, listening to German hymns, and shopping at Younkers and JC Penney. She enjoyed eating out at Bishops and McDonalds with her sister Nettie and Village Inn with Norbert and going to garage sales were some of her favorite activities. Lydia enjoyed spending time with her children and seven grandchildren, she loved them dearly. We will miss her loving heart, her sense of humor, her encouragement, and her constant prayers for us all.
Lydia was preceded in death by her husband Werner Metzler and her sons Edgar Metzler and Timothy Metzler; her parents Peter and Wilhelmine Beyer; her brothers and sisters Elizabeth and husband Adolph Heuss, Ruth and husband Wilhelm Fuhrer, Nettie and husband Paul Heuss, Martha and husband Carl Hjort, John Beyer, Paul and wife Emmy Beyer, Walter Beyer, and Gunther Beyer.
Survivors include her son Norbert and wife Karen Metzler of Johnston, Iowa; her daughter Jane and husband Rick Lotz of Viroqua, Wisconsin; her grandchildren, Christina and husband Mike Amos of Atlanta, Georgia, Andrea Metzler of Des Moines, Iowa, Nathan Metzler of Bend, Oregon, and Michael Metzler of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Daniel Lotz of Mankato, Minnesota, Zachary Lotz and Jacob Lotz of Viroqua; her sister Margarethe Radtke of Germany; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by her son Norbert Metzler on Monday, August 14, 2017, at 1:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. The casket bearers will be Andrea Metzler, Michael Metzler, Nathan Metzler, Zachary Lotz, David Lotz, Jacob Lotz and Christina Amos.
Norbert and Jane would like to extend their deepest gratitude to the wonderful caring and compassionate staff at Calvin Community Care Center where she was a resident for the past eight months of her life. The family prefers memorials to Grace & Truth Inc., 210 Chestnut St., Danville, Il. 61832 website: gtpress.org or Living Waters Bible Camp, E8932 Reo Ave., Westby, Wisconsin. 54667 website: lwbc.org