So very sorry to hear of Michael and Jacobs passing. My heart goes out to you all. Will keep you all in my prayers.

My heartfelt condolences to the entire Metzger family. May you feel God’s presence in this time of loss and may he keep you all in his arms and carry you through the days ahead.

Jane,

I just heard about Jacob and Michael. I am very sorry for you and your family's loss.

My deepest condolences to Mike's family at this time. I flew with Mike when he filled in at our Farmington, Mo base (adult ship base) and some of his last flights as a BK pilot at our Granite City, IL base. Mike was a rare breed. He was passionate about his role as pilot and even though he loved to joke with his crewmates he was always cognizant in the cockpit and made sure we felt comfortable with every flight and kept us updated on any anticipated changes and kept his cool when unexpected things came up. He had the knack to make even the worst shifts seem a little better.

I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to fly with Mike on many occasions and considered him a true friend as well. He will live on in many of our memories and will be deeply missed. Blue skies Mike.

I am very sorry for your loss. I pray for God's comfort and peace to help you through this very difficult time. God bless all those who love Michael and Jacob.

As a team of professional pilots, nurses and medic’s who had the privilege of working with Mike here at the Farmington, Missouri base, our hearts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones. May God’s peace be upon you all as you travel through this traumatic time. Our lives have been blessed by Mike. During his tenure here he blessed the lives of countless children as a pilot and as a friend. He loved flying and through his skills assisted in the aid and healing of children from throughout the states of Missouri and Illinois. Mike lived his life to the fullest and made us all laugh along the way. He will be missed. God bless you Mike as you now navigate the eternities.

Our warmest condolences,

The St. Louis Children’s Parkland Air Medical Team

"High Flight", written by John G. Magee on September 3, 1941.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,-and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,

I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air....

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never lark nor ever eagle flew-

And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God

I wish to extend my sincere sympathy to the entire Metzger family, including His Father, brothers and sister. His parents and I were friends in high school and years after. I am truly sorry for such a tragedy.

Very sad to hear about Mike and his son. I met Mike at the Commemorative Air Force in St. Charles where he came in and made many friends. He will be missed. So sad and sorry for your loss. jpf

To the family of Mike,

I worked with Mike (Although we always just called him Metzger) for many years at AirCare, N151AC.

He was always fun to work with, could take a joke and throw one right back at you. He was unique and ornery which made him fun to spend a work shift with. He spoke of his children often and you could tell how much each of them meant to him. He always had time to watch an episode (or more) of Spongebob, and even had his phone text alert as Spongebob.

Rest assured, he was a great pilot, always safe, always diligent. Always stated his flight intentions to us, which I loved. “Nose left, tail right....Looks good, feels good...on the go...”. I had a few weather related flights with him during his time at AirCare, and he was always calm and cool and got us to our destination safely.

I’m very sad for your family and your loss.