Thomas O. Metzger, 73

Thomas O. Metzger died peacefully at the home of his eldest son Christopher on Feb. 7, 2012, after battling cancer.

He was born in Gardena, Calif., on July 24, 1938, to Thomas L. Metzger and Gertrude E. Happe where he was raised, until enlisting in the United States Army after graduating high school. He spent four years as an Army linguist, translating Russian and German.

He married Janet R. Gervais in the summer of 1962, and moved to Bigfork in 1967, where they raised five children. They were divorced in 1986 and remained friends until his death.

Tom was the hospital administrator at Kalispell Regional Medical Center from 1967 until his retirement in 1988. He was instrumental in the development and building of Kalispell Regional Medical Center and Brendan House.

Tom was preceded in death by both of his loving parents.

Survivors include his wife of 15 years, Doris Metzger, of Las Vegas; and his five children, Christopher Metzger and his wife Sue of Bay Point, Calif., Mary Fisher and her husband Jed of Kalispell, Michael Metzger and his wife Kathy of Tunnel Hill, Ga., Matthew Metzger and his wife Jennifer of Culpepper, Va., and Theresa Mickelson of Whitefish. 

Tom has 13 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, four stepgrandchildren, and four stepgreat-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.