RICEVILLE — Anne (Setka) Metzler, 67, of Riverton, Wyoming, and formerly of Riceville and Decorah, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly following a sudden illness at her home on Sunday, June 28, 2026.
Anne was born March 23, 1959, in Riceville, the daughter of Stanley and Ruth Stanton Setka. She graduated from Riceville High School in 1977 and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from the University of Iowa.
She married Kenneth A. Metzler on June 11, 2006, at her family home in Riceville. The couple made their home in Riverton and shared 20 years of marriage.
According to her obituary, Anne devoted much of her life to helping others during emergencies. She worked as a dispatcher for the Decorah Police Department from 1984 until 2006 before moving to Wyoming.
Anne then served as a dispatcher for the Riverton Police Department from 2007 until her retirement in 2024. Her obituary notes that she became a calm and reassuring voice for people facing frightening and dangerous situations, while also helping protect police officers, firefighters and other emergency responders.
Her public service extended beyond the dispatch center. Anne volunteered as a firefighter with Battalion 1 of Fremont County and had previously served as a volunteer firefighter in Decorah.
She also worked as an instructor for the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, teaching fire-service courses around the country and providing fire-prevention education to schoolchildren.
According to the obituary, Anne also volunteered with Meals on Wheels in Shoshoni and was active in the American Legion Auxiliary. Family members described her as generous and thoughtful, frequently sending cards for birthdays, holidays and other special occasions.
Anne enjoyed cooking for family and friends, sewing, completing word-find puzzles and hunting. She and Ken shared several hunting adventures, including three trips to Africa and other trips to Australia, Florida and Hawaii.
She is survived by her husband, Ken Metzler of Riverton; her sons, Lucas Irvin and his wife, Jen, of Osage, and Joe Irvin of Riverton; stepchildren Joe Metzler and his wife, Cynthia, and John Metzler and his wife, Missy; grandchildren Elizabeth Hinders, Brooke Irvin, Brenna Metzler and Cambree Metzler; her brother, Al Setka and his wife, Mari Anne, of Des Moines; sisters Mary Barnes and her husband, David, of Denver, Colorado, and Diane Setka of Riceville; and other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Stanton Setka.
A memorial service was held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at Davis Funeral Home in Riverton. Emergency-service honors were presented in recognition of Anne’s many years of public service.
A visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026, at Schmelzer Funeral Homes in Riceville.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 18, 2026, in Riceville.
A private family burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Riceville.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the USO, Operation Gratitude or Packages From Home.
Schmelzer Funeral Homes is handling the Iowa arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
If you would like an obituary, remembrance or tribute story published in NIT, please email the details to NORTHIOWATODAY@GMAIL.COM. This is a free service.