Bill Mercer Jr. 1962-2023
Wendell William Mercer Jr., 61, of Holton, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, loving his family and friends.
He was born June 29, 1962, in Syracuse, N.Y., the son of Wendell William Mercer and Sharon Elizabeth (Stark).
Bill Jr. graduated from Holton High School in 1980, excelling in sports, especially track and cross country. He held multiple long distance running records for many years. He attended Baker University for one year and Mesa Community College for one year. He graduated from Kansas City Community College in 1984 with his degree in mortuary science.
He worked for Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home from 1984 to 1985, Dengel and Son Mortuary from 1985 to 1986 and Mercer Funeral Home from 1986 to 2000. From 2000 to 2002 he worked for Midwest Savings and Loan in Topeka, Prairie Band Potawatomi Casino from 2002 to 2012 and Walmart from 2015 to 2017. While living in Topeka for a few years, he worked for Quicklane Auto Parts as a delivery driver from 2014 to 2015, Mission Critical (as a medication delivery driver) from 2017 to 2018 and Academy Sports from 2018 to 2019. He returned to Holton and worked for Cecil K’s Hometown Market from 2022 to 2023 and recently Dollar General.
He was a member of EUM Church, a past member of Holton Rotary Club and a past member of Holton Chamber of Commerce.
Bill Jr. married Cindy Greemore on Aug. 17, 1984, in Holton. His pride and joy, Alex, was born to this union. He and Cindy later divorced. He married Janeth Trillos Galexo on July 18, 2009, in Barranquilla, Colombia. They later separated.
Survivors include his son, Alex Lenear Mercer (Amanda) of Holton; father, Bill Sr. “Papa” of Ennis, Mont.; mother, Sharon E. Pickard (Guy) of Fairway; brother, John Christopher “Chris” Mercer (Tracy) of Holton; grandchildren, Landon Paul, Cooper Lenear, Madiann Rose and Eloise Elizabeth Ethel Mercer, all of Holton; nephews, Kaleb Smith (Morgan) and Grant Mercer, both of Holton; niece, Megan Mercer of Horton; great-nephews and niece, Gatlin, Jennings and Brecken Smith, all of Holton; and extended family and friends.
Bill Jr. enjoyed being near a beach and everything it had to offer, loved music (he attended more than 75 concerts with his friends and many with Stacy Wright) and sports stats. As he would say, “Music is the soundtrack of life.”
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow in Holton Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Alex Mercer (to be designated to the four grandchildren’s education), sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
