Joseph Robert MetzgerJanuary 2, 2017Joseph Robert Metzger passed away on Monday, January 2, 2017 after suffering long-term effects of the shingles virus and heart failure. He was 87 years old.Joseph was born on May 6, 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the proud son of Agnes (Cahill) and Lucien Metzger. He was a veteran of the United States Army who was enlisted as a member of the Army of Occupation in Japan following World War II and also served during the Korean War. After the conclusion of his military service, Joseph returned to his profession as an Electrician and worked as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers before founding and operating his own electrical contracting firm and managing it successfully for many years. Joseph was also a two-term Mayor of South Harrison Township, New Jersey. Despite all his life's accomplishments, his true passion was his family and his favorite hobbies of gardening and crafts and his admiration of the seashore and its many unique light houses.Joseph leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 67 years Margaret (Roth) Metzger; his faithful children Joseph R. Metzger Jr. (Marie) and Janice Metzger (Christopher DeGraaf); his sisters Evelyn Kanjarsky and Lorraine Smith (Jack); brothers Raymond (Dot), Robert (Miriam), Lawrence (Linda), Eugene, Kenneth (Judie), Francis (Alicia) and Warren. Joseph also leaves behind many extended family members and a number of other people who were proud to call him a friend.A Memorial Service for Joseph will be celebrated at 2:00 PM on Friday, January 6, 2017 inside the Chapel at Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, 1589 Colonial Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida 33907, (239) 936-0555. Visitation will be held before this ceremony beginning at 12:30 pm also inside the funeral home chapel. At the conclusion of services, friends and family will recess to adjacent Memorial Gardens Cemetery where members of the U.S. Army will perform military honors and final prayers of commendation and committal will be offered in the gazebo located at the Garden of Serenity. Donations in Joseph's memory can be made to , 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, (800) 395-1087 or on the internet at https://www.stjude.org/give.htmlTo leave a tribute, share a story or to offer condolences to the family at this difficult time please visit Joseph's memorial webpage at www.fortmyersmemorial.com and sign his guestbook.