Vincent Metcalf

Vincent J. Metcalf answered the call of home and passed through the heavenly gates on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at the age of 97. The oldest child of Walter and Jessie (Hall) Metcalf, he was born on March 18, 1924, at the family farmhouse in the Town of Packwaukee.  He graduated from Montello High School in 1942. While continuing his education at UW-Madison, he was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity, earning his bachelor’s degree in agriculture. On September 26, 1953, he married Mary Kearns in Buffalo Township at the St. Andrew Catholic Church. Together they were blessed with four children. Mary preceded Vincent in death on November 3, 2011.

In addition to farming the land of his boyhood home, Vincent owned and operated Metcalf Brothers Muck Farm with his brother Bill. Together they raised a variety of crops along with cattle and hogs. Upon retirement from muck farming, Vincent began raising sheep. Amazed at the advances he witnessed in agriculture during his lifetime and a farmer to his very core, he partook of one last harvest in the fall of 2021. Running deeper than the muck he farmed was his faith, love of his family and dedication to his community.

A lifelong lover of music, Vincent sang in barbershop quartets and was a longtime member of the church choir at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Montello. Blessed with rhythm, he also loved to dance. Active in his church as well as his community, he served on the Montello School Board for 20 years. Honest, straight-forward and reliable characterized him.  He carried a passion for protecting the unborn. Both his hand and mouth dealt charity as Vincent gave more to this world than he took. He often recited the words to the Eddy Arnold song “Richest Man in the World”, for he sincerely believed he was. Forever indebted for all of life’s riches that were bestowed upon him, Vincent daily prayed of his gratitude.

The land not only provided his livelihood. It also provided endless hours of recreation. He was an avid outdoorsman who relished hunting deer, pheasants, waterfowl, and fishing. He made numerous hunting trips north to Herbster, WI and was a founding member of the 8-20 Club. He also savored traveling the country with Mary, visiting both family and friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Mary Ellen Sayles of Frenchtown, MT, Jim (Jeanne) of Montello, Harry of Montello and Kathy (Jack) Knox of Butler, MO. His grandchildren: Jesse (Leigh), Hope (Ryan), Heidi (Chad), Gretchen, Lynn, Chelci (Gus) and Kate. His step-grandchildren: Scott (Diane) Sayles, Kent (Emily) Sayles, Jacqueline (Matt) Iseler and Julie (Stu) Jackson. The grandkids that called him great: Ethan, Everett, Millie, Mccoy, Keith, Myles, Elsie, Molly.  Step-greatgrandchildren:  Olivia, Spencer and Aiden. Vincent is further survived by Stacy Metcalf, brothers-in-law: Jon Steinhaus and Kenneth Soda, sisters-in-law: Diane Metcalf and Mary Kearns as well as many extended family members and friends.

Vince is preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Jessie, his wife, Mary, son-in-law, Bill Sayles and his siblings: Max (Katie), Mary Lou (Leo) Bisch, Bill (Delores), Blanche, Robert (Mary Ann), Eunice Soda and Judy Steinhaus.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Montello. Visitation will be held on Wednesday evening at the church from 4:00 until 7:00PM with a rosary service at 7:00PM and again on Thursday from 9:30 AM until the time of service. Father James McNamee will officiate and burial will follow at the parish cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 277 E. Montello Street, Montello, WI 53949 or the Montello Historic Preservation Society Elevator Fund, P.O. Box 473, Montello.

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Montello and Oxford is honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com