Rodney Earl Metz

Rodney Earl “Rod” Metz, a hard worker and talented handyman, who was a good storyteller, loved to tell jokes and snack on M&M’s, passed away Tuesday, December 5, at St. Mary-Corwin Hospital in Pueblo of complications from gallbladder surgery and cardiac arrest. He was 81 years old.

Rod was born July 19, 1942, in Pueblo to Earl Hukill Metz and Myrtle Mae Clark.He was married June 22, 2002, to Janice Elaine Lynch by a justice of the peace at the Pueblo Reservoir. Their marriage was blessed August 16, 2009, at Our Lady of the Meadows Catholic Church. On June 18, 2022, they renewed vows for their 20th anniversary at St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Rod learned work skills as a teenager by delivering Pueblo’s two daily papers, the morning Chieftain and the evening Star Journal. The routes in south Pueblo were so large several years later that it took three people to do them.

Rod retired in 2001 from Aquila Inc., where he worked 38 years as a Special Meterman. He handled business accounts for a large area including Pueblo, Rocky Ford, Canon City, Westcliffe and Cripple Creek. He would travel a different direction each week. Well-respected by co-workers and clients, he installed, tested and repaired single- and three-phase watthour meters. Rod also helped many years with the annual Fort Collins Meter School for meter testers from Colorado and neighboring states.

Rod was a member in good standing of the Silver State Masons Lodge from May 19, 1973. He joined the AL Kaly Shriners, known as Kalyklown unit, in 1994, earning the nickname of “Uptown Klown.” He was a 32nd degree Mason of the Southern Colorado Consistory, and a member and Worthy Patron of the Order of Eastern Star. As a youth he was active in DeMolay, the Masons youth group, and later became a Rainbow Dad.

Rod wore his affectionately earned nicknames, “Trouble,” “Ole Fart” and “Papa Rod” with a smile. Jan fondly recalls their winters spent traveling to Casa Grande, AZ, and other places, that he could fix or make anything, and taught her to do many home projects. Beginning in 2004, Rod and Jan put on costumes and Klown makeup – she was “Peaches” -- for birthdays, anniversaries and other private events, giving out toys and balloons. His love for collecting all things M&M’s, including ball caps, jackets and decanters was widely known. So, too, was his dislike for gossip. Jan learned another lesson from Rod’s passing, that a person can shed tears of complete sadness and joy at the same time. And she knows her soul mate, her strength and best friend no longer struggles in pain with health issues.

Survivors include his wife, Janice Metz of the family home and beloved dog Lacey; son Paul Metz (Tammy) and daughter Melaine Metz; a brother, Donald Metz (Debbie), Colorado Springs; 11 grandchildren, Holly (Alonzo), Katherine (Jay), Katrina, Devon (fiancé Jade), Samuel, Leah-Rose, Edward, Henry, Elizabeth, Tessa, Ty; four great-grandchildren, Isaac, Evelina, Liam, William; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Other survivors include church family who were like a son and daughter, Brian and Devona McDonald, and their children Abby and LeRoy; good friends, Jan DeFelice (Rod’s partner in crime) and Pattie Ellison; and a sister by another mother, Yvonne Lopez; and many other relatives, friends, coworkers and neighbors.

Besides his parents, Rod was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Helena, and beloved dog Shelby.

Rod’s service will begin at 1 p.m., January 5,2024 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 University Circle, Pueblo, CO. Cremains will be placed later in a private event at Imperial Memorial Gardens, Pueblo. Jan wants anyone with a fond memory of Rod to tell, email or write a note to her, in order to keep Rod’s memory alive forever.

Donations in Rod’s memory may be made either to Shriners Children’s Hospital, www.lovetotherescue.org, or Paws for Life, an animal rescue group in Pueblo, www.pawspueblo.org.