AUDREY BELLE KEPLER METIER

: AUDREY BELLE KEPLER METIER

Audrey Belle Kepler Metier, 90, died in the early morning of Saturday, April 27 at Friendship Haven, Fort Dodge, Iowa under the care of the Catalyst staff and UnityPoint Hospice. A Celebration of life will be held at First United Methodist Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa at 10:30 am on Thursday, May 16th. Luncheon will be held after the service. Interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery, Spencer, Iowa.

Audrey was born March 1,1929 to Fred Audley Kepler and Ruby Edith Fassett Kepler in Spencer, Iowa where she finished her primary education. She attended Cottey College and Iowa State University majoring in textiles and clothing design, Home Economics. Audrey married Richard (Dick) Metier from Spencer. The couple moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa in 1950 to raise a family and build a business, the Culligan Water Conditioning company. Audrey was very involved in the Fort Dodge community which she grew to love. She and her family attended First United Methodist Church where she was very active; notably, the first female Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. She was a long time member of local organizations T.T.T. and Chapter GV PEO, both organizations supporting women and girls. She served on the Trinity hospital foundation board for 6 years. Audrey was an accomplished seamstress, teaching sewing classes for adult education at Iowa Central Community College. She had a home business selling Leiters Designer Fabrics from all over the world to individuals in Fort Dodge and surrounding communities. All her life, Audrey loved to play bridge and belonged to a ladies bridge club for over 60 years. She also loved to knit sweaters for herself and her grandchildren. Audrey was exceptionally well read and enjoyed reading up to her last days. Audrey was known for her optimism. When asked what was her greatest accomplishment in life, she said, “The I’M UP ON FORT DODGE Campaign,” which started in March, 1985 after an economic downturn. The Fort Dodge Messenger called this “her one woman crusade.” Audrey felt called to help her community turn it’s attitude around. She enlisted the help of the Chamber of Commerce, banks, small businesses, and schools who happily took up her idea including a song commissioned by the Fort Dodge Public Relations committee. She invested her own money ordering 5,000 red ” I’m UP on Fort Dodge” buttons and T-shirts. She created a pledge card asking people to promise to speak positively about the community. In her words from an editorial she wrote May 5, 1986, “If you have an idea, don’t keep it under your hat. This is a more – the- merrier type of project. I’d like to think that in the years ahead we can look back and say, ‘Oh sure 1985, that’s the year we started telling each other how lucky we are to live in Fort Dodge. In fact when you think about it, 1985 was when things started to turn around for us.'” Her Pledge card: “We pledge as loyal citizens of Fort Dodge we are committed to helping our community grow and prosper in every way that we can. To this end, we make this personal pledge: … to at all times maintain a positive attitude about the potential of our community for growth and prosperity; …to do all we can to unite our community and awaken a new Spirit of Enterprise: that will result in an even better quality of life for all of our citizens.”

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, Ruby Edith Fassett Kepler, Fred Audley Kepler and her loving husband Richard (Dick) Metier, married 60 years.

Audrey is survived by her eldest daughter Julie Metier Danskin (Jon Danskin), grandson Erik Danskin (Lauren), great grandson Leo, granddaughter Emma Danskin Robinson (Zach Robinson), great grandson Wren, her son John Metier (Elizabeth), grandson Ben Metier (Emily), grandson Matt Metier, (Nicole Danielson), granddaughter Meghan Metier, youngest daughter Nancy Metier Mohni (Jim Mohni), granddaughter Audrey Mohni (Nathan Peters), and granddaughter Anna Mohni.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent for the benefit of First United Methodist Church, Fort Dodge, Iowa 127 N. 10th St., Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 or other charity of your choice.