Bruce Mettler, Lodi community leader, dies at 72
Lodi recently lost one of its leaders. Bruce Allen Mettler, 72, died peacefully at home on Jan. 7.
Mettler is remembered for his involvement and philanthropy in the community and his extensive career and background in agriculture.
“He’s an individual of impeccable integrity who always did what he said he was going to do. His word was gold,” said Kent Steinwert, chairman and president of Farmers & Merchants Bank. “He was a consummate gentleman, a very sensitive and caring person who constantly placed others above himself,”
Mettler was a devoted family man, a loyal and loving husband, an incredible and patient father and a proud grandfather, Steinwert said. He was also a man who revered his parents and took care of them in their older years.
Mettler served not only his community, but his country as well.
“He was a patriotic individual who served in the U.S. Army and did time in Vietnam and he volunteered for that service immediately after graduating from UC Davis,” Steinwert said.
Steinwert met Mettler in 1996 and worked with him during the time that Mettler was president of East-Side Winery (now Oak Ridge Winery), served on the boards of the San Joaquin County Farm Bureau and Mokelumne Hill Fire District and was the director of Farmers & Merchants Bank.
“He was a generous man, giving enormous sums of money and endless volunteer hours back to the community,” Steinwert said. “His mark and evidence of his generosity is noteworthy in community institutions like Lodi Memorial Hospital, the Veteran Memorial Building, the volunteer fire departments, local religious organizations, educational foundations for agriculture and many others.”
Mettler was an active member of Zion’s Reformed Church and Steinwert said he was told that Mettler never missed a service or Sunday school.
“That loyalty and dependability was his hallmark, whether it was a board member at the Lodi Grape Festival or any of the other memorable board or leadership positions that he held,” Steinwert said.
“Bruce was always very involved in the community and in the ag programs,” said Larry Mettler, his third cousin and close friend. “Everybody’s going to miss that involvement in the community.”
San Joaquin County Farm Bureau President Bruce Blodgett also remembered Mettler’s giving spirit.
“Bruce was one of a kind,” Blodgett said. “He was so generous with his time and generous with his support of our scholarship foundation. He was the president of our scholarship foundation for many, many years and really one of its founding fathers. He was one of the ones who got it up and running, and now it’s a foundation that awards over $40,000 in scholarships each year. It’s the efforts and leadership of people like Bruce that made that happen.”
Mettler, born to a family steeped in farming, was a successful grower in the Lodi area with an extensive background in local business, agriculture and community service. His expertise in the wine grape market, one of Farmers & Merchant’s largest commodity segments, combined with his academic training as an agricultural economist added great value to the bank’s board.
“He was the perfect director, always defending and
protecting the interests of the shareholders and the communities that the bank served,” Steinwert said.
Mettler was also involved with the California Future Farmers of America Foundation; the Lodi Grape Growers; the Northern California Fruit Company; Tokay Marketing Agreement; the American Legion; the San Joaquin Historical Society; the San Joaquin Partnership and Business Council; San Joaquin Council of Government Habitat Conservation Plan and Policy Committee; Tokay High School Ag Advisory Committee; Lodi Young Farmers and was the national delegate to the American Farm Bureau Convention.
Mettler is the son of Ole and Dorothy Mettler, who, along with his wife Barbara Del, preceded him in death. He is survived by his two children, Blair and Eric Mettler, and his grandchildren Chance, Jennifer and Quentin. He is also survived by his sister, Joan Rider, and brother-in-law, Richard, a niece and nephew, and a great nephew.
Mettler’s funeral was attended by hundreds of people noting the breadth and depth of respect that other community leaders had for him, Steinwert said.
“I categorize him as an individual of the highest form of integrity and generosity,” Steinwert said. “He was a giver and a helper throughout his life. I never remember Bruce saying anything negative or having a negative attitude under any circumstance,” Steinwert said. “He was a friend. He was a business associate and I know I speak on behalf of many people in the community that he will be sorely and deeply missed.”