Obituary: Rodney Metso

Rodney William "Rocky" Metso, 69, of Sawyer, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024. He was born April 5, 1955, in Cloquet to William and Tyyne (Mannila) Metso. Rocky grew up in Sawyer and graduated from Carlton High School in 1973.

He enjoyed a long career with the Potlatch paper mill in Cloquet. Rocky and his brother Les were twins of sorts. They had the same birthday, 17 years apart.

If there was something that needed fixing, Rocky was there to help - whether it was a neighbor's leaky roof or a tractor that wouldn't start. If there was a fishing trip happening, Rocky was on it. He loved his trips with his dad, Bill, and more recently his good friend Wayne.

If there was a cribbage game being played, Rocky wanted to be part of it, and his exclamations and cribbage banter made playing with him a treat.

Rocky had a gift for fixing things, as shown in his nearly completed Oliver tractor and recent motorcycle rehabs. He was curious about learning. He was teaching himself to play the guitar.

Rocky was the keeper of family and community stories, a great loss to us all.

Rocky was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Tynne; his brother, Les; and his sister Beverly Hubbs. Rocky is survived by his sister Norma (Vern) Zierman of Forest Lake; nephews and nieces, David Zierman of Mora, Roger Zierman of Golden Valley, Leslee Lindahl of Woodbury, Scott Hubbs of Spokane, and Jeni (Greg) Watts of Spokane; and great-nieces and great-nephews, Lucy Lindahl, Nolan Watts and MacKynzie Watts.

Visitation: 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. funeral service on Friday, Aug. 16 at Atkins Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet. Burial will be in Sawyer Cemetery with lunch after at the Perch Lake Town Hall, 2779 Big Lake Road.

Pine Knot News, Aug. 9, 2024