Wallace Mercer

Wallace H. Mercer, age 92, passed from this earth on June 2, 2020. He died, as he lived, in the trust and care of God.

Wally grew up in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. After graduating from Purdue University with a degree in engineering, he met his first wife, Ruth Ann Schultz, while designing pots and pans for Mirro Aluminum in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. They were married in January of 1952 (despite a blizzard), and began their early married life in California. It was the time of the Korean Conflict, and Wally was stationed there with the Army signal corps.
After his service, Wally, Ruth, and a baby daughter moved back to Wisconsin, where Wally began work as a manufacturer’s representative with his father, Harold. Eventually, Wally and his three brothers formed the Harold H. Mercer Company, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Wally’s two sons and many other family members were part of this business.

In all, Wally and Ruth raised four children in Brookfield, WI, where they were active members of Calvary Lutheran Church and Elmbrook Church, and were known for their smiles. Wally served on the church council, building committees, and as an elder. They both traveled, sometimes with church trips, to places including France, the Holy
Land, Romania, and eastern Africa.

They were blessed with good friends from Wally’s high-school days and from a bridge club—a group which also produced slapstick movies together. Wally and Ruth also enjoyed life at a lake cottage in the northwoods of Wisconsin near Three Lakes… although Ruth passed away too soon from cancer.

In 1993, Wally married Mary Grimstad Grant, who had actually been confirmed with him many years earlier in Wauwatosa. The two moved to Florida, to Bonita Springs, before settling into Shell Point Retirement Community. At Shell Point, Wally enjoyed the annual photography show, some singing with the Village Church choir, and was, for many years, a leader of the “Mac Club” which helped promote computer skills. (One of his granddaughters described him as the “Mac Daddy.”) Other enjoyments over his life have included woodworking, listening to music, and boating over Planting Ground Lake in Wisconsin.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Norma Mercer, his brothers Martin and Neil, his first wife, Ruth Ann, and a stepson, David Grant.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Mercer, and both his and her children: Constance (Jim) Morgenstern of Neenah, WI, Jonathan Mercer (Michelle Burt) of Wauwatosa, WI, Dr. Julianne Newcomer (Jim Tauchen) of Nashotah, WI, and David Mercer (special friend Marsha Hake) of Grafton, WI, Nancy (Darrell) Datte of Poway, CA, Lori Grant of Akron, OH, and Steve (Jeanne) Grant of Wisconsin Rapids, WI. He is further survived by his brother Miles Mercer (Jill) of Menasha, WI, as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service for Wally will be held online, at 6pm (Eastern) on Sunday, June 28th. To receive details of the service, please email Jim at whmercermemorial@gmail.com.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Village Church at Shell Point Retirement Community in Ft. Myers, FL, Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, WI, or to help sponsor Wally's granddaughter doing Christian mission work in the Dominican Republic (see GraceUnlimited.org).

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