Obituary: Mary Linda Mettner

Mary Linda Mettner, 72, of Cloquet, passed into eternal life on Nov. 9, 2021. Linda, as she preferred to be called, was born to George and Verrilla (Roy) Jenkins on Oct. 26, 1949. Her early life was spent with her two siblings, Claralee and James, and she enjoyed ice skating and learning to sew and quilt. She attended Cloquet High School and graduated in 1967.

She worked for Conwed for several years before she left to raise her children. As an advocate for the community, Linda spent 10 years as the treasurer and director of the Northeast Carlton County Food Shelf. She loved telling her favorite stories about the things she did there with her grandchildren. She also shared her talents within the community as a member of the Cloquet Library Board and at Zion Lutheran as a council member.

She ran Linda's Quality Alterations for over 40 years in Cloquet. She loved working with brides and bridesmaids and took special pleasure in solving difficult fitting problems. She often spent her evenings thinking out solutions and loved nothing more than seeing the happiness on a bride's face when the gown fit perfectly. After retirement, Linda was finally able to spend time sewing for herself and spent many hours quilting for her loved ones.

Linda married the love of her life, Tom Mettner, in 1968 and nothing made Linda prouder than the life she made with him for more than 53 years. Their first son, Dwayne, arrived in 1971 and their second son, Andrew, in 1973. When her three grandchildren arrived, she became "Grandma Lindy" and she was never happier to wear a title. Her grandkids brought her many hours of fun and joy when they were little, and she was so proud of them as they became successful young adults. Family was Linda's greatest pleasure and accomplishment in life.

Linda is survived by her husband, Tom; sons Dwayne (Katie) and Andrew (Kisber); her grandchildren Emily, Edward, and Elias; brother James (Judy) Jenkins and her sister, Claralee Johnson.

Celebration of Life: Visitation at 1 p.m. until a 2 p.m. service on Jan. 15 at Zion Lutheran Church, 1000 Washington Ave., Cloquet. The family asks that masks be worn.

Linda and her family would like to thank her providers at St. Luke's cardiac and critical care unit, the nephrology providers at Fresenius and St. Luke's Kidney Care, and St. Luke's Hospice.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Care in Cloquet. The family requests that any memorial gifts be sent to Zion Lutheran's music program.

Pine Knot News, Nov. 19, 2021