Jackson Reed Mercer

Jackson Reed "Jack" Mercer, 91, of Bowling Green, Ohio, passed away Friday, July 15, 2016, in Heritage Corner Health Care Campus, Bowling Green, following a period of declining health.
He was born July 1, 1925, in Bowling Green, a son of Galen K. and Marion Hiles Mercer. He spent much of his childhood during the Great Depression in Canonsburg, but he returned to Bowling Green to attend high school while living with his aunt, Hazel Mercer, a dietician and French and Latin languages teacher at Bowling Green High School.
A member of the "Greatest Generation," Mr. Mercer helped his family survive during the Great Depression by working odd jobs and as a paper boy after school.
After graduating as a member of Bowling Green High School's Class of 1943, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army Air Corps, completing 25 combat missions over Nazi occupied Europe during World War II. He was assigned to the 320th Bomb Wing as a tail gunner and bombardier in a B-26 medium bomber. He attained the rank of technical sergeant during his service.
Returning to Bowling Green after World War II, Mr. Mercer took advantage of the G.I. Bill and attended Bowling Green State University, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in business administration.
As the result of a blind date while at Bowling Green State University, he met Judith Ethel "Judy" Twist from Montclair, N.J. They married September 8, 1951, in Montclair, a year after his graduation. It was a union that lasted nearly 65 years, until her passing April 5, 2016, in Bowling Green. Their only child, Todd Allen, was born in 1962.
During his working life, Mr. Mercer was employed in office administration and sales by Daybrook Hydraulics in Bowling Green and as a regional sales representative by General Portland Cement Corp. He finished his career affiliated with Rudolph-Libbe Inc., managing large, up-scale mobile home communities in Holland, Ohio, and Findlay, Ohio.
He was a proud member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while at Bowling Green State University, and maintained lifelong friendships with his fraternity brothers. He was a life member of Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Bowling Green.
Mr. Mercer was an avid golfer and bowler, playing for many years on Elks leagues at Bowling Green Country Club and Al Mar Lanes respectively, as well as a hunter who made a yearly deer-hunting pilgrimage to Western Pennsylvania with seven buddies, and once hunted moose in Canada.
After completing his career, Mr. Mercer and his wife enjoyed traveling the country to attend his 320th Bomb Wing reunions, visiting old friends and visiting Todd, who was stationed with the U.S. Army in Germany, Cleveland, Texas and North Carolina. In 2012, he was honored and thrilled to visit Washington, D.C., as part of the Honor Flight program for veterans.
Surviving are his son, Todd (Maria) Mercer of Horb am Neckar, Germany; three grandchildren, Jackson R. Mercer of Elba, Ala., and Maximillian and Olivia Mercer, both of Germany; a niece, Gayle (Sam) Mitchell of Adrian, Mich.; a nephew, Allen Davis of Adrian; and a number of other nieces, nephews and cousins.
Deceased, in addition to his parents and wife, are a sister, Sylvia Jean (Ralph) Davis of Adrian, and a sister-in-law, Barbara (Pete) Brown of Albuquerque, N.M.
The wonderful staff of Heritage Corner Health Care Campus, Bowling Green, provided great care to Mr. Mercer for the past 18 months, going above and beyond in their patience and accommodation of his needs and desires.
Mr. Mercer's remains were cremated, and a private memorial service will take place in the future. Arrangements are entrusted to Deck-Hanneman Funeral Home & Crematory, Bowling Green.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Elks National Foundation or a veteran's charity of the donor's choosing.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.hannemanfh.com.