Betty Jo Metcalf
January 13, 1926 — April 28, 2022
Betty Wing Metcalf, born January 13th, 1926, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on April, 28th, 2022.
Those left to cherish her memory are brother, Jack (Marge) Wing; daughter Karen Ackley
(George Mega); son Brian (Lisa) Metcalf; son-in-law Wrede McCollum; grandchildren: Denise,
Mindy, and Stephanie Ackley; Monica (Jeff) Musolf; Whitney (Ty) Cowman; Sophie (Chip)
Phillips; Isabelle (Ryan) Drake; Bronwyn Metcalf (Jack Gunnink); Brad (Michelle) McCollum;
Ben (Kristina) McCollum; great grandchildren: Lanie and Max Kampert (Imani); Jack, Lola, and Isaac McCollum; Sarah and Abby Yaske; Kayla McCollum; Rhemy and Mack Cowman; Charlie and Roman Drake; and Cruise and Nash Phillips; and great, great grandson Abraham Paige.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents Anna and Walter Wing; brothers Loren, Walt, and Gayle; her son, Michael; her daughter, Nancy McCollum, and her husband of 67 years, Stanton.
Betty was a devoted farm wife and mother, running to get parts for a broken down combine, climbing a 20’ ladder to help paint the hay barn, caring for all kinds of pets the family had, or traveling to every basketball game and sheep show in the state that her children and grandchildren participated in.
When she wasn’t working around the farm or house, she loved to be in her garden or sitting at her kitchen table watching birds. She tended to her wild flower border, planted iris, and guarded the wild blue bells that grew in her yard from the mowers. She attracted finches, woodpeckers, cardinals, and could identify any bird that found its way to her feeder.
Betty made scrumptious apple pies (although there‘s a debate whether her apple was better than her peach), delicious pancakes, and tasty pickles. Her annual fish fry served upon her return from Florida was an eagerly awaited event.
An avid sports fan, she not only closely followed Brian’s high school basketball career, but also for decades recorded all time trial times for the Knoxville races, and cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes football team each fall.
Betty loved to fish and spend time on the water whether it was on Pakwash Lake in Canada or in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of her favorite days were spent shelling around Pine Island.
A talented seamstress, she made many of Karen and Nancy’s clothes as they were growing up. In later years she made each of the grandchildren a Raggedy Ann (or Andy) doll.
Betty was fun loving and always up for a good time. She loved to travel and fell in love with Ireland, was amazed by the Panama Canal, and enjoyed touring Germany. But she was happiest riding behind Stanton on his motorcycle exploring the back roads of Iowa. She will be missed for her gentle nature and kind soul.
In lieu of flowers please consider giving a gift in Betty’s memory to the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation or to the Columbia Methodist Church’s Building Fund.
Those left to cherish her memory are brother, Jack (Marge) Wing; daughter Karen Ackley
(George Mega); son Brian (Lisa) Metcalf; son-in-law Wrede McCollum; grandchildren: Denise,
Mindy, and Stephanie Ackley; Monica (Jeff) Musolf; Whitney (Ty) Cowman; Sophie (Chip)
Phillips; Isabelle (Ryan) Drake; Bronwyn Metcalf (Jack Gunnink); Brad (Michelle) McCollum;
Ben (Kristina) McCollum; great grandchildren: Lanie and Max Kampert (Imani); Jack, Lola, and Isaac McCollum; Sarah and Abby Yaske; Kayla McCollum; Rhemy and Mack Cowman; Charlie and Roman Drake; and Cruise and Nash Phillips; and great, great grandson Abraham Paige.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents Anna and Walter Wing; brothers Loren, Walt, and Gayle; her son, Michael; her daughter, Nancy McCollum, and her husband of 67 years, Stanton.
Betty was a devoted farm wife and mother, running to get parts for a broken down combine, climbing a 20’ ladder to help paint the hay barn, caring for all kinds of pets the family had, or traveling to every basketball game and sheep show in the state that her children and grandchildren participated in.
When she wasn’t working around the farm or house, she loved to be in her garden or sitting at her kitchen table watching birds. She tended to her wild flower border, planted iris, and guarded the wild blue bells that grew in her yard from the mowers. She attracted finches, woodpeckers, cardinals, and could identify any bird that found its way to her feeder.
Betty made scrumptious apple pies (although there‘s a debate whether her apple was better than her peach), delicious pancakes, and tasty pickles. Her annual fish fry served upon her return from Florida was an eagerly awaited event.
An avid sports fan, she not only closely followed Brian’s high school basketball career, but also for decades recorded all time trial times for the Knoxville races, and cheered on the Iowa Hawkeyes football team each fall.
Betty loved to fish and spend time on the water whether it was on Pakwash Lake in Canada or in the Gulf of Mexico. Some of her favorite days were spent shelling around Pine Island.
A talented seamstress, she made many of Karen and Nancy’s clothes as they were growing up. In later years she made each of the grandchildren a Raggedy Ann (or Andy) doll.
Betty was fun loving and always up for a good time. She loved to travel and fell in love with Ireland, was amazed by the Panama Canal, and enjoyed touring Germany. But she was happiest riding behind Stanton on his motorcycle exploring the back roads of Iowa. She will be missed for her gentle nature and kind soul.
In lieu of flowers please consider giving a gift in Betty’s memory to the Knoxville Panther Scholarship Foundation or to the Columbia Methodist Church’s Building Fund.
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