Eugene J. “Geno” Metz, Jr.
June 15th, 1938 - July 29th, 2023
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Geno's Obituary
Eugene J. “Geno” Metz, Jr., 85, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Nathan Buch officiating. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 12:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations in Gene’s name may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to sign Gene’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Gene was born June 15, 1938 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Eugene J. & Jane (Parrish) Metz, Sr. He graduated from Portage Northern High School in Portage, class of 1956. On June 8, 1957, he married the former Susan J. Popke at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor. Gene spent his working career in the printing industry, beginning at Imperial Printing in the bindery then sales for many years. He later worked at Oscar’s in St. Joseph before, in 1998, opening his own business-GM Printing, which he continued to operate until the end.
Gene loved sports. He coached baseball while all four of his sons were playing at Fairplain East School, and was an avid golfer, playing in two leagues at Blossom Trails and Lake Michigan Golf Hills. Gene was known for his large vegetable garden at his home, which he used to supply neighbors & friends with all of the corn & tomatoes they needed. Gene was a long-time member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor, where he served on the board and was active with various projects over the years. He will be missed by his many friends at Church and at his regular stop, The Grand Crossing in Benton Harbor.
Gene is survived by three sons-Tim (Darlene) Metz of LaPorte, IN, Paul Metz & Jon Metz, both of Benton Harbor; son-in-law Ray Griffith and daughter-in-law Natalie Metz, both of Mishawaka; nine grandchildren-Kristin McFarland, Andy Metz, Jenna (Mitchell) Bryant, Hayden Heffron, Kaia & Hanna Metz, Zoey Metz, Corey & Chris McCullough; two sisters-Janice (Vic) Towns of Portage, MI, Susan Metz of Kalamazoo; brother Michael (Sandy) Metz of Summerville, South Carolina; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Susan, his daughter Diane Griffith, his son Terrill “Terry” Metz, by two brothers-Jim & Mark Metz, and a sister Sally Barnes.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Nathan Buch officiating. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 12:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorial donations in Gene’s name may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to sign Gene’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Gene was born June 15, 1938 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Eugene J. & Jane (Parrish) Metz, Sr. He graduated from Portage Northern High School in Portage, class of 1956. On June 8, 1957, he married the former Susan J. Popke at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor. Gene spent his working career in the printing industry, beginning at Imperial Printing in the bindery then sales for many years. He later worked at Oscar’s in St. Joseph before, in 1998, opening his own business-GM Printing, which he continued to operate until the end.
Gene loved sports. He coached baseball while all four of his sons were playing at Fairplain East School, and was an avid golfer, playing in two leagues at Blossom Trails and Lake Michigan Golf Hills. Gene was known for his large vegetable garden at his home, which he used to supply neighbors & friends with all of the corn & tomatoes they needed. Gene was a long-time member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor, where he served on the board and was active with various projects over the years. He will be missed by his many friends at Church and at his regular stop, The Grand Crossing in Benton Harbor.
Gene is survived by three sons-Tim (Darlene) Metz of LaPorte, IN, Paul Metz & Jon Metz, both of Benton Harbor; son-in-law Ray Griffith and daughter-in-law Natalie Metz, both of Mishawaka; nine grandchildren-Kristin McFarland, Andy Metz, Jenna (Mitchell) Bryant, Hayden Heffron, Kaia & Hanna Metz, Zoey Metz, Corey & Chris McCullough; two sisters-Janice (Vic) Towns of Portage, MI, Susan Metz of Kalamazoo; brother Michael (Sandy) Metz of Summerville, South Carolina; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Susan, his daughter Diane Griffith, his son Terrill “Terry” Metz, by two brothers-Jim & Mark Metz, and a sister Sally Barnes.
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