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David Van Metre

March 10, 1937 ~ May 11, 2023

David Ure Van Metre passed away peacefully in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on May 11, 2023, after a long and valiant cancer battle. Dave was born in Iowa City in 1937. He grew up in Mount Vernon, Iowa. His father Douglas was a banker, and his mother Mary was a homemaker. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Douglas, his wife, Carol and his son, David (Bo). He is survived by his son, Jim, his wife Stacey, daughter-in-law Robin, and four grandchildren, Lindsey, Jimmy, Aaron, and Joe, who he loved hearing the adventures of. Dave is also survived by three nephews and their families whom he adored. When Dave was 15, his father died. Dave went to Lake Forest Academy to finish high school. He was a naturally gifted athlete who excelled in multiple sports there, as well as acting in several school plays. He graduated in 1955. At Colorado College, Dave met his future wife Carol when he was talking in the library and she told him to quiet down. Carol noticed Dave had a Sports Illustrated tucked inside his textbook. Dave was a standout football team member and was an All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tight end. Dave was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1959. Dave entered the Army after football and served at Fort Benning in Georgia. Dave and Carol moved to Omaha in 1968 and Dave went into the municipal bond business. He had a long career at Chiles, Heider, and Co. in Omaha. Dave was also involved in Travel and Transport, a travel agency. After his business career he took great pride in working to upgrade the fitness facilities and athletic venues of various schools and community centers, both in Omaha and Mount Vernon. He organized efforts for weight training rooms, softball and baseball fields, and soccer and football stadiums. He and his wife Carol particularly made efforts to improve facilities in under-served communities. His efforts earned him membership in the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. Dave had a life-long passion for fitness and its benefits for overall health. He was a regular at the Downtown Omaha YMCA. He ran the New York, Twin Cities, and Los Angeles marathons. Later in life he was an avid Pilates practitioner, usually taking his dog with him. Dave was kind, fair, and generous. He was a joy to sit and chat with. He loved to laugh, particularly at himself.Dave led a satisfying life, full of good deeds. He met and stayed in contact with many life-long friends along the way. He will be missed by all who knew him. A memorial service may be planned for later this summer. In lieu of flowers, Dave would have appreciated a tree or greenery be planted in his memory, or alternatively a donation to a local Boys & Girls Club of America. Please share your support and memories with Dave's family on his Tribute Wall at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.

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  1. We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services – Mount Vernon

  2. Very sad to read this today. Dave and Carol always gave to the community. From chats to advice and major undertakings. Never ones wanting credit or the attention. They were the best people I knew. I remember the cry we all had when they decided to make the move to Colorado. Both were so excited to start a new adventure. After the sudden loss of Carol Dave was very very heart broken. Louie by his side and a new bright red suv he said then ” This is temporary and I will see her again soon”. My friends are together again. That is something to celebrate.

    • I had become friends of Dave in Omaha, Fort Collins and in Cedar Rapids, and as well with Nebraska High School Sports Hall Of Fame. I didn’t know Carol but she was involved with many things. They were involved in many projects in Omaha and Iowa. He will be missed by many. Please accept my sympathy

  3. Dave was a generous, funny and giving man. He and I met through his long time support of Mount Vernon Community Schools. He and is wife were major contributors to the bleachers at the original football field, Middle School and High School weight rooms, the new high school softball field, the Auditorium seating in the high school, and the Mustang sculpture art piece at the high school. He also supported a couple scholarships for seniors, the Kids in Need program, Summer agilities programs and the Alumni Association.
    Most of our communication was through text, email and phone calls. It was always great to hear from him and I tried to keep him updated with pictures of all the projects he helped support at the school and around town. His support of the Community Center, the Veterans Memorial and Cornell are some of the other ways he has influenced this town. As we discussed projects we often got sidetracked talking about Mount Vernon people and school traditions etc. He did say when we were planning the Mustang statue site that we might have to put a fence around it so those ornery Solon Spartans didn’t deface it! He was a very successful guy who wanted to give back to the communities he lived in. Omaha benefitted from countless weight rooms and ball diamonds from Dave and Carol. He always enjoyed coming back to MV for the Alumni breakfast and visiting with classmates and friends. He moved from Mount Vernon a long time ago, but he didn’t forget us.

    My sympathies to Dave’s family, be proud of him and hope your good memories console you in this difficult time.

  4. Dave & Carol Van Metre were two of the most committed human beings I have ever met. Their philanthropic efforts literally provided “level” playing fields for underserved communities in the Omaha area. Their commitment to Omaha’s youth was both profound and enduring. Both Dave & Carol will be remembered as lifelong champions of Omaha Public Schools students, athletes and staff.
    Luanne Nelson
    Austin, Texas

  5. Sad to hear of Dave’s passing. I have great memories of Dave and Carol at Thanksgiving dinners over the years. Both were a class act. Peace

  6. Blessings to the Van Metre family. Dave was a wonderful, caring human being who did so much good for so many. I was pleased to be his friend.
    Lee Barfknecht, retired sportswriter, Omaha World-Herald

  7. What a guy. Bright, caring, funny, generous. good family man, and a not so good golfer.

    Nano & I will miss Dave and Carol.

  8. So deeply sadden to hear of Dave’s passing. We’ve lost a great, gentle and generous man. I will cherish each and every memory of the times we shared. Rest In Peace, Mr. Dave.

  9. It was an honor to have known Dave. He certainly had great accomplishments and very generously provided significant support to many worthy entities. Sympathies to his family.

  10. David was a very caring and genuinely humble loving man. He loved life, always greeting others with a smile and a handshake. He and his wife Carol gave and enriched the Omaha Public Schools athletic programs with weight rooms and a field at South High to name a few things.
    He will be missed…

    Jo and Tony Dusatko

  11. Our gentle but firm giant has fallen! Soft spoken, attentive to what you were talking or stressing about, always concerned about the youth having a place in their own community; a couple of sweet people who cared about this community and the young people in it and didn’t waste any time providing solutions! I remember coming from a meeting where I had to raise my voice to explain what/why we were upset! After the meeting someone said in a quiet voice, “we hear you!” Those three words meant more to me and the group that we were struggling to get resources for then I could ever explain to you! Carol & Dave Van Metre were just that, quiet resourceful, caring and giving individuals who not only saw needs, they met them and didn’t want the publicity that went along with what they did for others! They had a heart for the young people in this community! They quietly went about seeing that needs were met and that communities were not left out, “they heard us… They are together again, planting seeds in a different garden. Thank you family for sharing them with us, Omaha is a better community because they traveled our way!!

    Ernie Boykin & family

    • This is so beautifully said, Ernie. You certainly captured the Van Metre’s essence and character.

  12. Thank YOU for ALL your LOVE and SUPPORT over the years Mr. VanMeter!!!! YOU were like a dad to me and my sister! I’m grateful we got to talk to you recently!!! LOVE YOU!!!! YOU ALL will have a GRAND T and T reunion and Chiles Heider reunion!!!!

  13. I have known Dave for about 80 years. We were childhood friends living one block apart. I have seen recent comments that he liked to laugh and I can confirm that even in his recent condition he still had the laugh. As we talked I reminded Dave how in our elementary years several of us kids would play in the Van Metre garage which had a reachable light in the attic. We would remove the bulb and see who would stick their finger in the socket. He laughed and I reminded him he never did it because he was brighter than the rest of us. At our 60th high school reunion Dave said he wanted to go to the Mt Vernon Bank and Trust building where his dad worked, and see if the old spittoons were in the basement. They were not, so when I located one I sent it to Dave and Carol. I asked him what he did with it and he told me he put a plant in it And we laughed when he said “it took over the room.” I will remember Dave when I think of our laughing together several times and for his gigantic accomplishments and the tree planted in his memory.

    Bill Macaulay

  14. My name is Tom Campbell. I was Dave’s college classmate and fraternity brother. When I think about Dave, as described in his obituary, I remember his love of a good laugh and a fun adventure. I remember his tryout with the Rams and his talking about the noise in the line. I think Dave also got a brief tryout with the 49rs. Dave will be missed by all who knew him as someone fun to be around. My best to his family


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