Joe Metzger Obituary

Joe Metzger

Joseph Michael Metzger, 77, of Arlington, passed away peacefully in hospice care Friday, April 3, 2026, at 1:10 p.m. surrounded by his loving family.

He was born May 4, 1948, to William L. and Betty (Weidman) Metzger. Joe married Cynthia (Pressnell) Metzger July 20, 1974. Together they shared over 50 years of marriage, a life full of family, travel, and a deep care for one another.

Joe is survived by his wife, Cindy; daughter, Emily (Aaron) Medvick; grandchildren, Karina Medvick and Joey, Gemma, and Zoe Hoppert, all of Raleigh, North Carolina; sister, Karen Bushong of Arcadia; brother, Mark, Findlay, sisters-in-law, Terri Metzger and Deb Metzger; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Steve (Jean), Terry, Jack; infant brother, David; brother-in-law, Bob Bushong; and nephew, Matthew "Gator" Metzger.

A 1966 graduate of Arlington High School, Joe worked at Cooper Tire before being drafted into the United States Army in 1968, where he served two years as a Military Police Officer and achieved the rank of Sergeant. On April 4, 1968, the very day he graduated from the Military Police Academy, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, and Joe's unit was immediately dispatched to Washington, D.C., to help protect the U.S. Capitol from a potential threat.

After his service, Joe earned a bachelor's degree from Bluffton College in 1973 and a master's degree from the University of Dayton in 1994. He dedicated the next 30 years to Arlington Local Schools, teaching health, physical education and building one of the most decorated football coaching careers in Blanchard Valley Conference history.

As head football coach of the Arlington Red Devils, Joe compiled five BVC championships, including co-championship seasons and undefeated 10-0 campaigns in 1976, 1979, and 1987. His 1976 and 1979 teams were named UPI State Champions. He recorded his 100th victory in 1987, and in 2002, guided the program to its 500th all-time win. His teams were the winningest in the BVC throughout the 1980s. He was named Northwest District Coach of the Year twice and the BVC's top coach four times. In addition to football, Joe coached track and field, girls' junior and high school basketball. He also helped establish Arlington's Little Devils youth football program, the first among the BVC schools that continues to this day.

In 1992, Joe was inducted into the Hancock County Sports Hall of Fame. In 2019, he and the 1979 Arlington football team were inducted together to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their UPI state championship season. In the final year of his life, Joe received what his family called the honor of his lifetime: Arlington Local Schools announced that its new athletic complex will be named "Joe Metzger Stadium", expected to be dedicated in August 2026.

Following his retirement from teaching in 2003, Joe worked as a crop and agriculture adjuster for NAU Insurance, a role that kept him connected to the farming community he loved. He and his brother Terry had co-founded Metzger Brothers Farm in 1979, a purebred Suffolk sheep and agricultural operation that continues today, carried on by family members Ryan, Luke, Drew, and Zac Metzger.

Joe cherished time with his wife, family, and lifelong friends. He was an avid pheasant hunter, enjoyed annual trips to Iowa and South Dakota, and loved card nights and weekly dinners with his closest companions. He and Cindy traveled extensively, including trips to Europe and Alaska. In recent winters, he split time between Florida and Raleigh, where he delighted in visits with his grandchildren.

Joe Metzger was a devoted husband, a proud father and grandfather, a decorated coach, a dedicated public servant, and a man of deep integrity. He will be profoundly missed.

We'll come together Saturday, August 22, 2026, to remember, honor and celebrate his life. Details will be announced at a later date.

Memorials can be made in Joe's name to Arlington Athletic Department or a charity of your choice.

A lesson in humility, in both victory and defeat; "When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less."- Paul Brown.

Arrangements have been entrusted to CRATES FUNERAL HOME, Arlington.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.coldrencrates.com