Richard 'Dick' W. Mercer

He was born October 27, 1927 to Elmer and Ruth (Swanson) Mercer. Dick graduated from Kearney High School in 1945. He delivered Debus bread until being drafted into the Army in 1946. After discharge in 1947, he married Eileen Crawford on November 7, 1948. After their marriage, Eileen’s father offered to rent them 80 acres he owned SE of Kearney. Dick had never driven a tractor, planted any crops or milked a cow. That soon changed as they received a M Farmall tractor, some chickens and turkeys for wedding presents. They then drove around and watched what the neighbors did on their farms and then went home and tried to duplicate how to do it on their own. He and Eileen then spent the next 55 years farming and feeding cattle. During that time he dedicated a lot of time serving on numerous boards and commissions. He served on the Board of Directors of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, President of the Nebraska livestock Feeders Association, the National Cattlemen’s Association, and the Nebraska Environmental Trust. His real passion was serving on the Central Platte Natural Resource District Board of Directors for 41 years, the Nebraska Natural Resource Council and the National Resource Commission. A few of his many recognitions were the Aksarben Court of Honor for Agriculture, Farm Bureau Silver Eagle, the Nebraskaland Wagonmaster award. He also received Kearney’s Freedom Award, and Nebraska Agriculture Hall of Fame. After Eileen’s death on April 1, 2003 from ALS, He remarried Alice Kegley on November 27, 2004 and moved into Kearney. There for the last ten years he’s enjoyed traveling with Alice and catching up on his bucket list. He enjoyed friends, cards, and family. Dick was a member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Kearney. He is survived by his wife Alice; son, Steve and wife Jackie of Kearney; daughter, Sandy Navarro and husband Bill of Aurora, CO; son, Scott and wife Becky of Gibbon, NE; grand children, Chad and wife Angie Mercer of Kearney, Karl and wife Karena Mercer of Kearney, Samantha and Christopher Mercer of Gibbon; great grandchildren, Carson and Kinley Mercer, Allyson and Trent Mercer all of Kearney; step children, Debbie and Fred Bell of Seneca, SC, Brian Kegley and wife Brenda, of Omaha, NE; step grandchildren, BJ Navarro of Denver, CO, Brad and wife Erin of Norman, OK, Randy Navarro of Denver CO, Raquel LaMay of Baltimore, MD, Stephanie Trumpower and fiancé Darrin Buck of Hughesville, MD, Ashley and husband Brian Matheny of Ashburn, VA, Tracy Bell of Fairfax, VA, Kylie and husband Daniel Negrete of Omaha, NE, and 12 step great grandchildren; sister in law, Stella Mercer of Montgomery, AL, and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Eileen, his parents; sister, Rosalie Sheen; brother, Jerry Mercer, and two infant brothers. PDF Printable Version

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Richard 'Dick' W. Mercer

October 27, 1927 - October 27, 1927