Robert (Rob) “Papa Rob” Lee Mettler
December 11, 1953 - January 1, 2023
Robert (Rob) Lee Mettler of Ashford was born December 11, 1953, to Frank and Rose (Suter) Mettler, the youngest of five boys and passed January 1, 2023, at the age of 69. He was very proud of his Swiss heritage enjoying many family events at the Swiss Park in Bonney Lake. He grew up in Elbe, Washington. Rob was a graduate of Eatonville High School, Class of 1972, where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.
He is survived by his wife Donna Mettler and together they had two children, Ryan Lee Mettler (Katie) and Sarah Jean Turner (Joel). They blessed them with three grandchildren, Waylan Mettler (19), Bodie Turner (15) and Sadie Mettler (14). Rob idolized his grandchildren and was the best Papa ever. He was so proud of each of their accomplishments, and would do anything for them. He is also survived by three brothers, Frank (Linda), Jim and Punk Mettler, as well as many special nieces and nephews, and numerous cousins. Brother David predeceased him in 2017.
Rob enjoyed growing up in a small-town community. He had long-kept ties to the people he grew up with and the generations to follow. He and Donna did not miss a football, volleyball, or basketball game once his grandkids started playing sports. They loved watching the grandkids and their friends from an early age through high school, and now college. Rob enjoyed driving his dump truck, especially after his retirement from Washington State Department of Transportation. Families from the Ashford, Elbe, and Eatonville areas would wave as he drove his Mettler Trucking dump truck to deliver rock to his local customers. Of his many fine qualities, Rob was always willing to help anyone, and did so with a smile. He spent nearly 40 years involved with the Morton Loggers Jubilee, as Assistant Jubilee Arena Director and enjoyed working with brothers Sonny and Punk, and son Ryan each year. The Jubilee is truly “Mettlerized”.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 11, 2023, at Columbia Crest STEM School, 24503 State Route 706 East, Ashford, WA, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Eatonville Dollars for Scholars, P. O. Box 1155, Eatonville, WA 98328. He would be very pleased for future EHS graduates to benefit through this worthy scholarship program.