Mercer Senior Center

Mercer Senior Center History:

The Mercer Senior Center, located at 2518 Martha Lake Road, officially opened in 1974 as the Northwoods Senior Citizens Club and has functioned as a free-standing, independent, volunteer-driven, non-profit organization ever since. 

During its 42-year history, it has primarily functioned as a place for seniors to gather, share fun times, enjoy nutritious food and socialize, while also providing a site for various community events and activities.

The Center was established by an ambitious group of community-minded Mercer volunteers led by Frank Brunner and Virginia Flesh. Brunner, a retired Forest Ranger, told a reporter in the early 1970s that retirees “…needed something to get us out of the house.” In 1972, the building was purchased from the DNR by John Hernday for $551 and generously donated to the Club.

Later, volunteers and Club members moved the structure to its present location which was gifted to the Club by Orville and Josephine McCoy. The outpouring of assistance continued when Ed Prag donated all the cement blocks and local mason, Whitey Gunther, laid the foundation free of charge. Still other private donors like the Chester Haines Family, the local American Legion Post, the Town of Mercer, and many others stepped forward to make the Center a reality.

Today, an equally strong and generous group of volunteers and organizations continue to donate their time, energy and money to guarantee the Mercer Senior Center continues as a well-run, welcoming organization for seniors and the Mercer community as a whole.

Volunteers continue to make improvements at the Center as noted below:

• Summer 2012 – Painted walls, added curtains, and installed new energy-saving lights
• Spring 2013 – New furnace and water heater installed
• Summer 2014 – New well installed
• Spring 2015 – Attic insulation added
• Summer 2015 – Blacktopped to our parking lot
• Fall 2015 – Added canopy to our front entrance
• Fall 2016 – Septic tank replaced; purchased new tables and chairs
• Fall 2017 – Kitchen to be remodeled

Feel free to stop and join us for noon meals on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, or just stop by to visit or join in activities.

2016/2017 Mercer Senior Center Board of Directors:

Officers:

Dorothy Wahner, President

• President, Mercer Senior Center (2014-Present)
• Vice President, Mercer Lioness
• Member, Paw Shop Board
• Past President, North Lakeland Discovery Center
• Worked as Executive Director, and/or Social Worker in several not-for-profit Organizations for over 30 years.

Betty Meinholz, Vice President

• Vice President, Mercer Senior Center
• Member, Board of Directors, Aging Unit of Iron County
• Past President, Mercer Lioness
• Vice President, Mercer Food Pantry
• Owner/Operator of Loons Nest Motel

Antoinette (Toni) Sendra

• Treasurer, Mercer Senior Center
• Secretary/Treasurer, Paw Shop
• Past Chair, Lupine Junefest
• Past Chair, Mercer Bike Trail

Joyce Manzanares

• Secretary, Mercer Senior Center
• Volunteer, Paw Shop
• Town Treasurer, Mercer Township for six years

Board Members:

Lauree Ackerman

• Member, Board of Directors, Mercer Senior Center
• Member, Mercer Lioness since 1996
• Member, Woods and Bloom Garden Club

William Bayer

• Member, Board of Directors, Mercer Senior Center
  
• Active in Mercer Senior Center since 2007
• Retired to Mercer in 1994
• Attracted to Iron County in 1973

Judy Bugni

• President, Mercer Lioness Board
• President, Mercer Library Board
• Trustee and Cantor, St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church

Mike Chamberlain

• Past Treasurer, Mercer Lion’s Club
• Member, Mercer Senior Center, Board of Directors
• Member, Veteran’s Groups: VFW, DAV, American Legion, Purple Heart
• Retired, Post Office employee for over 20 years
• Worked in the food and bar business for 20 years

Gene Hickey

• Secretary/Treasurer, Mason’s
• Member, Mercer Senior Center
• Past President, Mercer Lion’s Club
• Past President, Lake Association
• Retired School Teacher