Paul W. Metzger

Paul W. Metzger, 76, of Fond du Lac, entered into eternal glory on Sunday, July 5, 2026, at Edenbrook of Fond du Lac. He was born on December 17, 1949, in Detroit, MI, the son of Theodore and Betty (Wurst) Metzger. On May 18, 1973, he married Norine Theis at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Detroit. Paul proudly served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant from 1972 – 1975.

Paul attended St. Matthew Lutheran in Detroit, MI for grades K-12 grades, Northwestern College in Watertown, WI, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, WI, where he graduated in 1984 with his Master of Divinity.

Between college and the seminary Paul served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant during the Vietnam war from 1972 to 1975 while stationed primarily in Okinawa, Japan.

When he returned to civilian life, Paul taught high school at St. Matthew Lutheran in Detroit before pursuing pastoral ministry.

Upon graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Paul was initially assigned to serve a parish ministry at Good Shepherd Lutheran in Fond du Lac, WI. In 1993, he accepted a call to serve as pastor of Apostles Evangelical Lutheran in Billings, MT, where he also supported ministries in multiple outlying communities elsewhere in Montana and Wyoming. In 2002, Paul accepted a call to teach at the seminary for the Bulgarian Lutheran Church in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Following his work in Bulgaria, in 2004, Paul accepted his final call to a dual parish to serve St. John’s Lutheran and Good Shepherd Lutheran in Gladwin and Beaverton, MI respectively. While his public ministry was cut shorter than he would’ve preferred in 2017, following his Parkinson’s diagnosis, Paul continued to share his faith in Jesus and minister to others in many ways until his final days.

Above all else, Paul cherished his faith in Jesus, who lived, died, and rose again to fully and freely pay the full price for the sins of the world. He and Norine prioritized nurturing this same faith in their children, who then passed it on to their children. This is the lasting legacy they leave.

Paul enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, team sports, telling tall tales (“never let the facts get in the way of a good story”), photography, classical music, reading books, singing in choir; as well as being a lover of nature and a student of history.

He is survived by six children, Christine Obenauer, Lara (Chad) Birkholz, Carl Metzger, Emily (Josiah) Stoering, Paul (Kanda) Metzger, and Peter (Lydia) Metzger; fifteen grandchildren, Zephania Obenauer; Nathan (Shelby) Birkholz, Samantha Birkholz, Allyssa (Gabriel) Pruss, Joseph Metzger, Solomon, Johnathan, Betty, and Daniel Stoering, Anika, Moses, Natasha, and Tatyana Metzger, and Franklin and James Metzger; great granddaughter, Emilia Birkholz; six siblings, Kathleen (Walter) Hintz, Roberta Tokarski, Thomas (Brenda) Metzger, James (Anna) Metzger, Martha Kowalski, Matthew Metzger; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Betty; wife of 51 years, Norine; father-in-law and mother-in-law; and two brothers-in-law.

The visitation will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1010 Adams Avenue, North Fond du Lac, WI, 54937. The funeral service will follow the visitation at 11:30 AM at church. Military Honors will follow the service. Cremation will take place after the service. Inurnment will occur in Glen Eden Cemetery in Livonia, MI at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family for a charity to be named at a later date.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff of Edenbrook of Fond du Lac and SSM Health at Home Hospice for their care and compassion for Paul.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935.Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com