Former Mayor Phill Metzger died today while recovering from surgery. Metzger was Mayor here in Elwood from 2000 to 2004. Metzger had undergone hernia surgery, a relatively minor operation, Tuesday morning at Clarian North.

Doctors said the surgery had gone well. He was in recovery when he died, and family members aren’t quite sure what happened. An autopsy will likely be performed. He was a shelbyville native who attended Purdue University.
Metzger and his wife had just celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary over the weekend, and the couple had planned to move to Cape Coral, Fla.

Metzger is survived by a daughter, Emily, 22, and son, Chad, 25, both of Indianapolis.