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Maximillan Harding "Max" Metzger

Maximillan Metzger Obituary

Metzger, Maximillan Harding "Max" Age 84, Of Saint Paul Maestro Director, City of St. Paul Como Park Concerts. Preceded in death by wife Lillian Frances "Lill" (nee Olson) and parents Ludwig and Mady Ziegler Metzger. Survived by his musicians, friends, and associates in the music world; grandfather to John, Matt, & Nate Schraan. Member Twin Cities Musicians Union. Visitation 4 to 8 PM Tuesday at Willwerscheid Funeral Home, 1167 Grand Ave., St. Paul, 651-228-1006, and also AT CHURCH one hour prior to the service Wednesday. Funeral service 11:00 AM Wednesday at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 550 West 7th Street, St. Paul. Burial Elmhurst Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the City of St. Paul Como Park Pops Concerts Ensemble or Donors choice.

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Published by Pioneer Press from Jul. 23 to Jul. 25, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Maximillan Metzger

29 Entries

July 29, 2006

max,keeping playing

Holly Goldschmitz

July 28, 2006

Max, I will surely miss you sitting next to me and the kids in church.I'm so glad you and Lil will be together in heaven making music for the angels, I know how much you missed her deeply. Enjoy the beauty of heaven!

Sharon Peterson Palmer

July 27, 2006

I met Max many years ago when my two daughters, Tanya & Loni, ages 8 & 4 and I auditioned for a play. Our whole family ended up in Max's plays for many years. We had a lot of fun and I learned a lot, I am sure it helped me with the entertainment bussness I started years later and I even got a reference from Max when I started it. We had some great experiences with Max! He added so much to the Twin Cities. He will be greatly missed. Sharon Peterson Palmer

Jessica Slater

July 26, 2006

I met Max 8 years ago when I was 16 years old and auditioning on a whim for a part in Sound of Music. Who knew what a force this man would be in my life! I have many wonderful memories of summers spent with Max and I will always think of him fondly and miss him dearly. Thank you Max.

Linda & Molly Loomis

July 26, 2006

...how can we ever forget the red jacket that meant music and fun for us all!! Thanks for the memories Max...you and your ever delightful Lil will be missed!

Chris Lomheim

July 25, 2006

I didn't know Max until I met him in the St. paul Hotel a couple months ago. I was playing solo piano for the hotel lobby Tea and he came up to me. I looked up from the piano and here was this wonderful older man with a big smile walking up to me.

He was the sweetest guy, he stood and listened to me play and complemented me on my playing when I finished the song.

He introduced himself to me and we talked about music. I told him that I had known of him my whole life since I grew up in St. Paul, and that it was an honor to finally meet him.

I felt as if I had known him for a long time and before he left I gave him a hug.

I feel honored that I was able to meet him and share a little time with him before he left.

My sincere condolences to Max's family and to those whom he touched with his music and big smile.

Stew Peterson

July 25, 2006

Our family began a great association with Max in 1978 when we began appearing in the Broadway productions at the Como Park Pavilion. Our girls were only ages 4 and 7 then and he used all of us! This continued over 15 years. We enjoyed working with Max and Lil, the musians and the wonderful cast and crew he assembled. He always knew what was needed to ensure a great musical production.

Mary Leary

July 25, 2006

God bless the creative gentle Max who was my daughter's first director in Finean's Rainbow. His influence on young performing artists has nurtured many to go on to successfully singing their way through life! We will miss you Max.

Jody (Bowen) Seeger

July 25, 2006

I too lived across the street from Max. It was fun to sit on my porch and watch people coming and going and hearing the lovely music. I too would sit on the side of your home and just listen to all the instruments tuning up. You truly were a joy and remarkable person. God Bless!

T. Ohrlund

July 24, 2006

Max was indeed a treasure. He was my band director for a time at Central Lutheran School...about 37 yrs ago. I remember his stories and sense of humor, and his encouragement. I never comprehended the extent of his talent until much later. Who knows, maybe for the first time the angels and his Mom are enjoying his singing!

Loren Koppelman

July 24, 2006

Max, you are a man for all seasons. I miss you, the music students of Central H.S. miss you and all musicians miss you. What a kind and gentle person. May you rest in peace. Loren Koppelman

Melinda Maurey

July 24, 2006

It is an honor to have had the experience of working with a legendary figure who leaves such a unique legacy of warm and colorful memories. Max, you are irreplaceable!

Cheryl Jones

July 24, 2006

Max:

Thanks for letting the poor children of the neighborhood enjoy music they probably never would have been exposed to. Your mom was a great joy as were here numerous cats. May God bless you.

Cheryl Jones (Bowen)

Rebecca Trimble-Ortega

July 24, 2006

I don't remember ever not knowing Max, Mady and Lilian, from standing at the piano in the parlor listning to my mom take voice lessons from Mady, or later sitting with Mady during a rehersal because I was too young to be downstairs during rehersals. To later being in the productions and finally being allowed to join in. Ill never forget Max teaching me French for a song in South Pacific when I was about 6, and later coaching me on how to be "coy" and flirty in Carousel, and when I was having a hard time getting the feeling in Sound of Music, he would just sit down and say my lines word for word and he would become "Leisel" and as for his singing, yes he did if you could call it that, I think he knew every word and note of every part of every show he did. and even during performances he would sing, or groan or grunt and we wouldn't of wanted it any other way. He will be surly missed. We who knew you will always remember you and hopefully will see you in your tux with a baton in your hand when we oneday meet you at that stage in heaven I only hope we can get the rights to do the show!!!

Gaetano Fida

July 24, 2006

Max will be missed!!

I had the honor and pleasure of first meeting max during the time that my Mother was president of the Minnesota Music Teachers Assn.

Max became a part of our extended musical family and a good friend to my mother. God Bless!

Gerald e. Dexter

July 24, 2006

Max,

The citizens of St. Paul owe you so much for all of the wonderful music and times you provided them. Many people will probably not know, but Max was very instrumental (pun intended) in helping the St. Paul Police Chorus get its start. He had to work with a lot of us who were not particularly musical, but brought us along with a sense of humor and patience. Max, you will be missed, but I am sure you will have a very special job directing a choir of angels in heaven.

Cory Springhorn

July 24, 2006

As a band student at Webster Magnet and Highland Junior and Senior High, it was always a great privilege whenever we had Max as our substitute director- his stories were wonderful and unforgettable, like the man himself. Thanks to Max for the memories, and for spreading his passion for music to so many of us!

Toni (Militano) St. Martin

July 24, 2006

When I was a little girl I lived on Portland Ave. in St. Paul. Your home was across the street at the time. I remember hearing music coming from your home. I used to go over and sit on the side of the house on the stairs. One time you came out and I asked you if it was okay for me to sit there and listen. A friend drove me to the old neighborhood just a few weeks ago and as we drove past your home, it brought me back to the "good old days."

Laura Knutzen Leonberger

July 24, 2006

I have known Max for more than twenty years as both a fellow musician and a friend. When I first moved here in 1983, Max was the first musician I met, and he helped me meet so many other musicians and provided me with many wonderful opportunities with the St. Paul Opera Workshop, Capital City Theater, and many other community theaters around the Twin Cities. I even had the fortune of meeting my husband through Max when he hired us as soloists for an Easter cantata at his church. I have so many wonderful memories of Max, and will deeply miss him.

Jackie Lutmer

July 24, 2006

Max -

Thank you for the wonderful musical experiences. I always looked forward to our Saturday afternoon rehersals for the St. Paul Young People Singers and our concerts all over the Twin Cities - especially the Sunday's at Como Park. Thank you also for casting me in many productions of the St. Paul Opera Workshop. I was proud to be part of the productions and made many friends. The heavens are blessed to have you there to conduct the angel choirs - maybe now you can sing along!

Jackie (Joyce) Lutmer

jack ruttger

July 24, 2006

What great memories we have of Mady Ziegler Metzger giving concerts in our lodge lobby for visiting guests with Max at her side. And then we were blessed in later years with Max and his singing artists doing concerts in the same venue. The Metzger family all will long be remembered here at Ruttgers.

Don Demulling

July 24, 2006

I remember Max from Brady HS, Capital City Theater, and, of course, the concerts at Como.

His most memorable quote for me:

"Play like you've never played before...

Play good!"

The music will go on but I sure will miss Max.

Linda Johnson

July 24, 2006

Max, you were one of a kind! My favorite memory of you is your comment "I've forgotten more than they'll ever know" when someone would challenge your musical expertise. You were the best and an absolute genius to work for. Now our dear Lord has his director for his choir of angels.

Marlene Maurer

July 24, 2006

I enjoyed the sing alongs at Como Park, then later on some of us St Paul Choirealars joined Max for the Community Theater at Como, how much fun we had with Carousel. We will miss Max and Lil.

Jim De Lisi

July 23, 2006

Max, the Brady High School Class of 1968 will truly miss you. Thanks for presence during our formative years.

Jacqueline Bettenhausen

July 23, 2006

Max, Thanks for the memories of a great sub-teacher at Highland Pk Jr/Sr High School. Concerts at Como won't be the same w/o ya! You will be truely missed. God Bless Max!

Mary Jo Anderson

July 23, 2006

Thanks for the memories, Maestro. It's my turn to wait to join you and Lill and have a rousing concert in heaven. God bless you until we meet again.

Michelle Sayre

July 23, 2006

The world will be a less colorful place without you.

A M

July 23, 2006

I thank Max for many years of wonderful music on every summer Sunday afternoon. I was a single mom and went to hear him play with my daughter. Those are some of my best mom memories. God Bless Max, in heaven directing the choirs of angels.

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