James W. Metz, 71, of Danby, NY, died Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at the Cayuga Medical Center. He was the son of the late Augustine and Dorothy Metz.
Jim was a Sgt. with the New York State Department of Corrections prior to his retirement and had previously worked for the Department of Justice in Washington, DC. Never happy with working just one job at a time, he was also a member of the Laborer's Union.
No one loved life more than Jim. He was a man who enjoyed every minute of the day, so anxious to get out of bed in the morning and begin another day. Everything he did, he gave it his all. His passion for music was contagious. Put on an Elvis, Chuck Berry or Little Richard and he was in his glory. He was the best dancer, and loved being in the limelight on the dance floor. He loved his Harley Davidson motorcycle and was proud to be the owner of a purple Harley bike. He always looked forward to his trips to Daytona to meet up with many friends from all over the country, and Jim was so happy to finally get to Sturgis...a dream he had for a long time. He also had an insatiable love for cars and had many of them throughout his life. His latest passion was for Rat Rods. We will all miss his smiling face and wonderful sense of humor, and his great laugh.
Jim is survived by the love of his life, Debbie Alve; his children, Jamie (Kevin Handley) Pratt, Timothy Metz, Jody (Kim) Metz and Hilary (Shane) Schilling; his grandchildren, Nicholas, Jonathan, Aurora, Charlene, Danielle (Dustin), Alex, Zoe, Ki and Shyla and his daughter-in-law, Nikki (Eric Yartym) Alve. In addition to his parents, Jim was predeceased by his son, Scott Metz and Debbie's sons, Carl and Jamie.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 11 a.m. at the Danby Federated Church. Friends may call prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. A reception for family and friends will be held at the Eagles Club immediately following the service. Burial in South Hill Cemetery will be delayed until spring. Donations in Jim's memory may be Debbie Alve, Jim's soulmate to help defray his end of life expenses. Bangs Funeral Home is assisting the family. bangsfuneralhome.com
Visitation prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. Reception to follow at the Eagles Club. Burial in the spring at South Hill Cemetery.
SERVICES Funeral Service
Monday, February 22, 2016 11:00 AM
Danby Federated Church 1859 Danby Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850
Visitation prior to the service beginning at 10 a.m. Reception to follow at the Eagles Club. Burial in the spring at South Hill Cemetery.
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