Gary Metcalf

Gary Frank Metcalf age 59 passed away on August 18, 2022, at the University of Iowa Hospital. Visitation will be Thursday August 25, 2022 from 9:30am to 11:00am at Stout Reformed Church in Stout, Iowa. Funeral service will follow at 11:00am, Gary will be laid to rest in the Stout Cemetery. A luncheon for family and friends will be held in the church hall.

Gary Metcalf was one of the purest humans you could ever meet. He had a tenderness about him that you just don’t see. He loved with his entire heart and soul. When you were in his presence, there was no doubt that you were surrounded with love. He loved Jesus, and just before going back for surgery to repair his aorta last Friday, he proclaimed Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He’s been a friend of Jesus for many many years, but there was just something very different about the way he proclaimed it at that moment. I believe it was his way of telling me he was going to be with our Savior and that he was going to be OK. He loved me in the way that God designed a man to love his wife. He loved his children and gave them everything he had and more. His granddaughters owned his heart. He gave his very best to his friends and everything he did. He loved to fish and stopped at his favorite fishing spot several times a week. He didn’t catch much but that never deterred him. He was genuine and he has left a huge hole in many hearts. Gary has been telling all of us, his family, and friends that he knew he was going to die when he went to the hospital for the surgery. He kept saying it to all of his doctors and nurses while he was in the hospital. None of us believed him. But somehow, he knew. And when his time was up, he died of a completely unexpected brain bleed that had no correlation whatsoever with his aorta surgery. We firmly believe that this is all part of God’s great plan. And to the fortunate soul that received his liver, we pray that he will feel and know that it was given in love. That was my Gary, giving himself away to the very end.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents Vincent and Rose Mary (Schmitz) Metcalf and his brother Daniel Metcalf. He is survived by his wife Amy Lynne (Christensen) Metcalf, children and bonus children; Nicholas, Garrett, Will (Samantha), Mary (Ryan), Ben (Samantha), Josh, Cassandra, grandchildren; Alayna and Willow, siblings; Debra (Leonard) Becker, Robert (Vicci) Metcalf, David Metcalf, nieces and nephews; Robert, James, Katie, Corrina, Mitch, Morgan, Cory, Kelli, Miya, Talia, Carissa, Gabriel and Amy’s  parents; Dale and Gloria Christensen,
Engelkes Abels Funeral Home (Dike Chapel) is in charge of the arrangements. Flowers can be sent to Stout Reformed Church the day of service.