Richard Metz, 83

Richard Metz, 83, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, in Sagle, Idaho.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date when his orchard blooms in the spring.

He was born Feb. 16, 1940, in Richfield, Ohio, at home to August and Anna Metz. He was not a stranger to hard work, his father died when he was 14, so he tended to the family farm and worked at a riding academy.

Richard graduated from high school in 1958. He then enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Korea from 1959-1961. Upon his discharge from the Army, he attended Youngstown University, then transferred to Kent State University, where he graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in education. 

He moved his family to Sandpoint upon a suggestion from his brother, who lived here. He was also in the carpentry trades and they worked together for the summer before Richard’s shop class started at Priest River High School, where he taught for the next six years.

During summers, Richard worked on Lake Pend Oreille on Fred Kennedy’s tug boat, “The Josephine,” building docks and breakwaters. He built his custom home on Bottle Bay Road and a three-story horse stable. He was a fine finish carpenter and worked on the Panhandle State Bank building, condominiums, and several high-end homes. 

During this time, he was hunting elk, deer, and bear. He was also fishing in his collector wooden cabin cruiser. His real joy in life was hunting big game in Africa, where he landed five, his favorite being the gemsbok, of which the mount is hanging in his home.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sharon “Sherry” Metz; daughters Ivette (David) Cotton and Heather (David) Boyer; grandsons Calvin Fields and Zackary Boyer; granddaughter Crystal (Jeff) Hanks; and great-grandchildren Haley, Jaxon, and Cole.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements. Please visit Richard’s online memorial at www.lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.