Ralph Mercer

Ralph Edwin Mercer, 54, of Bay City, died Tuesday, August 7, 2007 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was born December 6, 1952 in Wabasha to Walter and Verna (Peters) Mercer. He grew up in Pepin, Wisconsin and attended Pepin schools, graduating from Pepin High School in 1972. On May 7, 1977 he married Bonnie Quade in Red Wing. He was employed for 31 years at Central Research Laboratories in Red Wing. His family attended First Covenant Church in Red Wing, and he enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, hunting, gardening and woodworking. His family remembers him for his talent of building things, including the home that he and Bonnie lived in, a canon, building a trailer out of a van and also flower baskets. He was a type of person that would give his shirt to a homeless person and would drop whatever he was doing and help others. He enjoyed cooking and baking, including his great pies that he would bake. He was a special husband, father, brother and friend.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Bay City; 2 sons, Fireman, Justin Mercer of Goose Creek, South Carolina and Airman, Anthony Mercer of LeMoore, Calif.; 3 brothers, Ron (Kris) Mercer of Eau Claire, Wisc., Ray (Ann) Mercer of River Falls, Wisc., and Russell (Aleta) Mercer of Birchwood, Wisc.; 4 sisters, June (John) Haberbush of Reeds Landing, Julia (Dean) McCluskey of Winona, Judy (Jim) Bergmark of Pepin, Wisc. and Joyce (Shawn) Daleiden of Rice Lake, Wisc; 3 sister-in-laws, Colleen (Chris) Bonner of Phoenix, Ariz., Linda (Ron) Liderding of Red Wing and Arlene Hayes of Phoenix, Ariz. and 1 brother-in-law, Scott (Linda) Hayes of Phoenix, Ariz.; several nieces, nephews and mother-in-law, Joyce Quade (Roland Wynn) of Hugo, Minn. He was preceded in death by his parents, maternal and paternal grandparents and brother-in-law, Rick Quade, Sr.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday, August 11, at the First Covenant Church with Reverend Tim Anderson officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Keith Newcomb, Chris Bonner, Rick Quade, Jr., Zachery Daleiden, Michael Haberbush and Aaron Mercer. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Ralph's nieces and nephews. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Friday, at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and for one hour prior to the service at the church.