Boyd R. Van Metre

Boyd R. Van Metre, 88, of Marshalltown, died late Wednesday night, November 25th, at the Grandview Heights in Marshalltown. Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, December 5th, at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home with Pastor Bobby Shomo officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service with the family. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Boyd and his family. Ph 641-844-1234. Born on January 23rd, 1921, in Clemons, Iowa, he was the son of Raymond L. and Catherine M. (Smith) Van Metre. He graduated from the State Center High School in 1939 and attended the Marshalltown Junior College. Boyd served our country honorably in the United States Army Air Corps in WWII. From 1941 to 1945, he served and flew the hump in India and China in the air cargo division as a captain. He later served in the Air Force Reserves for several years. On September 2nd, 1951, he was united in marriage to Virginia P. Bogue. They made their home at State Center where he farmed from 1946 to 1986 and then became associated with his son, Fred, in the Auction and Real Estate profession as a realtor and clerk until retiring in 1998. Mr. Van Metre was a member of the State Center United Methodist Church for over 60 years and was involved in the building of the new church in the mid-1960s. He was also a member of the Harlan C. Pfantz American Legion Post #122 in State Center and served on their honor guard. Left to cherish his memory is Virginia, his loving wife of 58 years, daughter Terri Ann Hannan of Marshalltown, son Fred B. (Nancy) Van Metre of Marshalltown, eight grandchildren: John, Luke, Mark and 2nd Lt. Matthew Hannan, Erin (Daniel) Clapp, Madelyn, Matthew and Mark Van Metre, and his sister Mary Catherine Gehring. In death he has rejoined his parents, a brother, twins in infancy and a granddaughter Rebecca Rae Hannan.