Melvin Metzger

Melvin A. Metzger, of Winchendon, MA, passed away from natural causes on April 29, 2025, at the age of 93. Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, he was one of seven children of the late Gilbert Metzger and Myrtle (Spurrier) Metzger.

As soon as he was old enough, Melvin eagerly enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served for three and a half years, including service on-the-ground in the Korean War, where he was honored with a Purple Heart. In his relatively short time in the military, he traveled the world and gained important skills and perspectives that served him well for the rest of his life. During his time at Ft. Devens in Massachusetts, he and his Army buddy met Helen Lis and her sister on a train while out on a shopping excursion. They ended up marrying the respective sisters and lived down the street from one another during much of their child-rearing days.

Melvin and Helen (who passed away in 2018) brought three children into the world and raised them in Winchendon: Donna (Metzger) Burt of Sangerville, ME; Mark Metzger, of Winchendon, MA; and Mary (Metzger) Hettinger of Meredith, NH. Melvin also accepted the role of guardian for his sister-in-law’s son, Bobby Lis of Otter River, MA, who joined the family for eight years.

 Melvin was blessed with six grandchildren: Isaac Burt of Brownville, ME; Heidi (Metzger) Lupien and Mark Metzger, Jr., both of Gardner, MA; Crystal Metzger of Fitchburg, MA; Allison Hettinger of Van Nuys, CA; and Matthew Hettinger of Oakland, CA. The family grew with a total of seven great-grandchildren: Caleb and Jonathan Lupien of Gardner, MA; Aiden (deceased), Noah, Mackenzie, and Eliza Metzger of Gardner; and Marshall Burt, who is stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. 

Melvin was a hard-working, compassionate, and kind man with a sense of humor and many varied interests and talents. His needs were simple; he didn’t want for much but gave much to others. After returning from his military service, he worked for a few different furniture manufacturing companies in Winchendon, Ashburnham, and Gardner (which is still known as The Chair City). His job was staining and finishing fine furniture. He particularly loved putting his artistic skills to work, painting the gold leaf finishes on chairs of that era.

He was foremost a family man – not only providing for his family by working two jobs periodically, but also for being the one to create a sense of celebration and wonder on holidays. He was also a religious man, having converted to Catholicism when he married Helen. He was talented at pencil sketches, and later in life, when arthritis and dementia took away some of his abilities, he loved coloring with pencils and crayons. Melvin’s artistic talents extended to singing and gardening, as well. At The Summit ElderCare day program in Leominster, MA, he often received accolades during sing-a-longs. He also had a green thumb –with vegetables, fruits, and flowers. He always had the nicest garden and passers-by would often give compliments if they saw him out tending to the front yard flower bed.

Melvin was an avid reader in his day. A learner-for-life, he mostly enjoyed self-help and religious/spiritual books. He also dabbled in creative writing and submitted a couple of children’s books to publishing companies. He taught himself to play chess, then taught his children, too. Mid-life, he tried piloting, as he took lessons and kept log books of his flights from the Gardner municipal airport. Ultimately, this hobby became too expensive for him.

Melvin’s life was well-lived. Although he had many ailments towards the end, he was visibly comfortable in his last days of life on Earth.

The family is forever grateful for The Summit ElderCare PACE program, which supported both Melvin and Helen socially and physically over the past decade or so of their lives. They both continued to spend weekdays at The Summit’s daycare program right up until they passed away.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, starting with calling hours 11 a.m. –Noon and a funeral service at noon at Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home (343 Central St., Winchendon, MA.

 The party will then process to the Massachusetts Veteran Memorial Cemetery 111 Glenallen St., Winchendon, MA for a 1 p.m. military honors service, followed by a reception at the Winchendon American Legion 295 School Street.