Obituary of Paul Metcalf

December 17, 1925 in a humble home on the wind swept prairies of Eastern Colorado Paul Louis became the last of ten Children born to Charles William and Minnie Mae Mark Metcalf. Paul’s family came by train to Lincoln County from Nebraska in 1914. In route a tragic train fire took all of their livestock and most of their household belongings. Paul spent his life farming, learning to milk cows at age 5. He attended rural elementary one room schools and Hugo High School. Though times were hard Paul’s childhood memories included escapades with friends, the one bicycle in the community and water fights that drained the livestock tank leaving the boys to hand pump water all night to replenish for the horses and cattle. Whether Paul sought out fun or it just found him, he loved life and cherished friendships old and new. He told of the open range and getting paid 5 cents to bring milk cows in for a neighbor. Once he spent his whole paycheck on a grapefruit, thinking that it was an extra large orange. Even the disappointments of life made for a good story. Paul retired from farming the first time in the early forties when he sold his 36D John Deere to take up girls instead. He and a friend headed west to California. In the fall of 1946 Paul saw Gladys Jane Peters from a distance while visiting family in Farmington New Mexico. He spent the winter back in Colorado writing letters to her that he never mailed. He returned to Farmington in September of 1947, asked her to marry him on their first date and in a whirlwind romance became man and wife six weeks later on October 12, 1947. Together they raised Richard Paul, Koni Kim, and Kenda Kay. His children and grandchildren were everything to him. All remember his horsey back rides, his warm accommodating lap, his unconditional love, and his way of making each feel special. Paul farmed and ranched until his retirement after which he enjoyed restoring antique furniture. A series of health issues including cancer, a brain injury, and chronic infections left him to spend his final months in care facilities, where he continued to share his flirtatious ways. Paul passed away August 7, 2011 at Colonial Columns Care Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado after a short bout with pneumonia. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gladys, his son and daughter in-law Richard and Donna Metcalf, his daughter and son in-law Koni and Dan Bock, his daughter, Kenda Schmeiser, and step son John Wenger and wife, Rita. Grandchildren include Misty Krebs and husband Troy, Crystal and Seth Metcalf, Nathan and Tyler Schmeiser. Step grandchildren, Justin and Dustin Bock, David, Denise, Danielle, Nick, and Jill Wenger. Also surviving are great Grandchild Brooke Krebs, step great grandchildren, Michelle Bastian, Raven and Blue Bock, Hayden, Logan, Bethany, Seth, and Joshua Wenger, Rebekka, Dillon, and Kimberly Goodwin and James and Heather Stuart. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Minnie, brothers, Earl, Clarence, and Floyd, Sisters, Elsie, Bernice, Fern, Helen (Sister Madeline), Arlene, Lorraine, and granddaughter, Amanda.