Edward Metzger
Belleville | Save
Edward Roland Metzger, 87, of Belleville, IL, born August 9, 1938, in East St. Louis, IL, died peacefully Thursday, June 18, 2026.
Edward was a high school graduate from St. Mary’s Brother Candidate Techny, IL. After three years of Novitiate, Ed was assigned to the Territory of Papua, New Guinea where he obtained a Sanitary and Water Supply Plumbers License from Queensland and Brisbane, Australia. During Ed’s time in New Guinea, he also acquired an Amateur Station License for HAM Radio from the Commonwealth of Australia, and learned to speak, read and write Neo Melanesian.
After returning to Belleville, Ed received a plumbing license in the State of Illinois and a plumbing inspectors certificate. He also attended Belleville Area College, the University of Illinois, and then moved on to California. There, he attended Santa Clara University and graduated with a Juris Doctorate. He was licensed to practice law in Illinois, Missouri, and California. After practicing law, Ed transitioned back to his true passion of plumbing, owning and operating Assured Plumbing Company for over 30 years.
Ed truly enjoyed skiing in Colorado, learning new languages-he could speak seven in total, Cardinal baseball, practicing yoga, classical music, and traveling to all 50 states. He traveled to 18 countries and six continents. He was a member of the Illinois Plumbing Inspectors Association, a blood donor who donated over 16 gallons of blood, potentially saving 384 lives over the years according to the American Red Cross, and a dedicated member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church and Men’s Club. Ed was a true gentleman and was loved by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roland Joseph and Catherine Mary, nee Beuckman, Metzger; and a sister, Janet Spink.
Surviving are his loving wife of 38 years, Dian Metzger, nee Rable, whom he married June 17, 1988; two daughters, Dina (Alexander) Gromada and Kendra (Mathew) Kaufman; two granddaughters, Elaina (Joseph Millard) Gromada and Sarita Kaufman; four siblings, Thomas (Mary Beth) Metzger, Nancy Nordtvedt, David (Tammy) Metzger, and Daniel (Janet) Metzger; many nieces and nephews; and his brother-in-law, Cdr. William J. Rable, USN (Ret.) (Libby Reuter).
The family extends a great appreciation to the staff at St. Paul’s Senior Community and Hospice of Southern Illinois for their care and compassion for Ed.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2026, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2026, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Belleville, IL, with Fr. Joseph Oganda and Msgr. Jack McEvilly concelebrating.
Burial will be at Green Mount Catholic Cemetery, Belleville, IL.
Renner Funeral Home
