Welcome to Mercer Senior Center
located in beautiful Mercer, Wisconsin

Loon Capital of the World!





Our mission statement:



"Seniors supporting each other through companionship, friendship, nutrition and activities."









Please click here for January lunch menu....





POPULAR MERCER CHEF RETIRES


September 24th was David Walta’s last day of cooking at the Mercer Senior Center.

Walta of Montreal is retiring after nine wonderful years of serving seniors at the Center.

David learned to cook at a vocational school in Louisiana and worked at the Hilton Hotel in Lafayette where his experience working with the chef greatly enhanced his already excellent cooking skills. 

He also worked at a Holiday Inn, an Ironwood nursing home for 14 years, and at the Hurley Senior Center for five years. His work in all these settings helped to make cooking seem easy. 

He will be remembered for his delicious meals, wonderful soups, home-made breads, great singing voice, and the many friendships he made with all who frequented the Center. 

David enjoyed his time in Mercer but will look forward to fishing more and sleeping later. 

THANK YOU David and have a safe and wonderful retirement!

As David leaves, Mercer welcomes Tawnya Spriggs Kangas, who lives on a farm in Iron Belt with her family and new husband. 

She is no stranger to cooking and has not only filled in at all four Iron County nutrition sites but has worked in various settings for many years including restaurants, a hospital, a school-based early childhood food program, and has also spent time catering. 

Welcome to Mercer Tawnya; we look forward to your positive energy and upbeat personality.

NOTE: Meals are prepared at the Mercer Senior Center on Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursdays, and meals can be ordered by calling 715-476-2113
or 800-950-8744 at least 24 hours in advance. During this COVID-19 period
(which will probably continue through the end of 2020), you can pick up your
meals between 11:30 – 12:30 each day. 


Quick links and info:


Please see our Volunteer tab for pictures of our spring cleanup which was delayed by COVID-19. The Senior Center looks great!!


Please see below for details of our most recent improvement project!

Upcoming Activities below (click each for info) - See Calendar page for complete listings....



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Tuesday, Jan 26 at 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Wednesday, Jan 27 at 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Thursday, Jan 28 at 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Friday, Jan 29 at 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM







Mercer Senior Center History:




The Mercer Senior Center, located at 2518 Martha Lake Road, was established in 1973 as the Northwoods Senior Citizens Club and has functioned as a free-standing, independent, volunteer-driven, non-profit organization ever since.



During its 47-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 volunteers led by Frank Brunner and Virginia Flesh. Brunner, a retired Forest Ranger, told a reporter in the early 1970's 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 he generously donated it to the Club.



Later, volunteers and Club members moved the structure to its present location on land which was gifted to the Club by Orville and Josephine McCoy “as long as it remains independent and continues as a senior center.” 



The outpouring of assistance continued when Ed Prag donated all the cement block 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.



Volunteers have continued 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
  • Spring 2015 -    Painted garage
  • Summer 2015 -  Blacktopped parking lot
  • Fall 2015 -       Added canopy to front entrance
  • Fall 2016  -      Septic tank replaced; purchased new tables and chairs
  • Fall 2017 -       Special appeal to raise money to remodel kitchen in January 2018
  • January 2018 - Closed center for month of January to remodel kitchen
  • Spring 2018 -   New floor in dining area installed
  • Spring 2018 -   Open House to celebrate kitchen remodeling and 45 years in operation
  • Spring 2018 -   Added air conditioning units
  • Spring 2019 -   Repaired roof from ice and winter damage
  • March 2020 -  Site closed to congregate meals but meals can be picked up
  • April 2020 -    Both bathrooms remodeled to make them in compliance with accessibility guidelines


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 community as a whole.




Here is the background for our most recent project.




ACCESSIBLE BATHROOMS AT LAST!


Despite the COVID-19 shutdown since March and not being able to get
together for lunch with everyone, we have been busy at the Senior Center.


Our bathrooms are now wheelchair accessible, light and bright after being
freshly painted and adding new fixtures, and a beautiful new floor. 


Best of all, given the generosity of everyone and the in-kind donations, the project
came in well below budget.


Improvements include:


1.  Removed all cubicles so that the bathrooms accommodate wheelchairs and make it much easier to          move around.

2.  Widened both entrance doors so they are now accessible.

3.  Replaced toilets and sinks in both rooms.

4.  Added appropriate grab bars on walls and near toilets.

5.  Replaced fixtures (paper towel, toilet paper holders and ceiling lights).

6.  Replaced curtains with blinds.

7.   Replaced electric switches to automatically turn on lights and exhaust fans

8.  Painted walls, ceiling, trim and doors.

9.  Replaced floor to match dining area.


We thank: 

John Stannisch (Anything Wood) for doing structural remodeling,
Klopatek Plumbing for the plumbing work and supplies, 
Williams Electric for relocating electrical wiring and installation of lights, 
and Action Floors for completing the floor. 

 In addition, we thank those who donated to this
project through our year-end Special Appeal, in-kind donations of supplies,
work, painting, and fixtures. 

Without the cooperation of the contractors and
coordination by Dorothy Bangle and Dorothy Wahner, this would not have
happened.


CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU TO ALL INVOLVED!







2019-2020 

Mercer Senior Center Board of Directors



Officers:




Judy Bugni, President

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


Dorothy Bangle, Vice President

  • Member, Senior Center Board of Directors
  • Secretary, Mercer Lioness
  • Treasurer, Mercer Public Library
  • Retired District Clerk, Northern Moraine
     Wastewater Reclamation District – 31 years
  • Past Treasurer – Village of McHenry Shores, Illinois
  • BS – Business Administration – Columbia College
  • AA – Accounting – Palomar College


Betty Meinholz, Treasurer

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


Susan Loeffler, Secretary

  • Member, Mercer Senior Center Board
  • Volunteer, Mercer Paw Shop
  • Retired after 40 years working as an RN
     in home care, hospice, case management and administration


Board Members:


Dorothy Wahner, Director

  • Past President, Mercer Senior Center
  • Past President, Mercer Lioness 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
  • BS and MSW Social Work; MS Health Services Administration


​
Mike Chamberlain, Director

  • Director, Mercer Senior Center
  • Past Treasurer, Mercer Lion’s Club
  • 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


Rita Erspamer, Director

  • Director, Mercer Senior Center Board
  • Past Volunteer, Paw Shop
  • Grew up in Hurley; moved to Mercer in 2014
  • Worked at AT&T for 33 years


Beth Wetzler, Director

  • Director, Mercer Senior Center
  • Volunteer, Friends of Mercer Library, 
     Candy Cane Christmas Celebration Committee, 
     Turtle River Pursuit Committee, Solstice
     Festival Committee and Chamber Ambassador
  • Secretary, Mercer Education Foundation
  • Owner, with husband Pete, of Williams
     Electric and Mechanical