Phillip Metzer

Phillip Wayne Metzer, 64, of Claremont, CA, died unexpectedly on May 10th at his residence. Phil was born in Coffeyville, Kansas the 4th of 6 children of Agnes and Joe Metzer on March 15, 1944. Phil attended Coffeyville High School and McFarland Trade School before joining the Navy where he was a medic stationed at Taipei, Taiwan during the Vietnam War. After his discharge from the Navy, Phil attended radiology school at St. Josephs Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas and went on to become a member of one of the first graduating classes of Physicians Assistances from Wichita State University. Phil was a Physicians Assistant in Wichita and Chanute, Kansas before going to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to serve as a Physicians Assistant for the Alaskan Pipeline. In September of 1978, Phil began working for Kaiser Permanente in Fontana, California. He was a family practice physicians assistant at Kaiser Hospital in Fontana up until the time of his death. As a result of his devotion to caring for his patients, Phil chose to help others upon his death by becoming an organ donor. Phil is survived by his daughter, MirandaMindy Metzer of Claremont; his son, Timothy Metzer of Chino Hills; his granddaughter, MadisonMaddie Metzer of Claremont; two brothers, Jim Metzer Ruth of Sequim, WA; Fred Metzer Debbie of Hutchinson, KS; two sisters, Pat Colliver of Albuquerque, NM; Marilyn McWhorter Dick of Topeka, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Agnes Metzer; and brother, Dan Metzer. In addition to his immediate family, Phil leaves behind an extremely large extended family of Kaiser Permanente co-workers. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at Holy Name Catholic Church, Coffeyville; the Father Jerome Spexarth, pastor, officiating. Interment will follow at the Calvary Cemetery. Viewing will be Tuesday, May 20, 2008 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel of Coffeyville where the Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations are made to Field Kindley High School of Coffeyville.