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Doug Mercer, 71, of Corning, entered eternal rest Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. Family will greet friends from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 17, 2021, at Pearson Family Funeral Service and Cremation Center in Corning.
Memorial services with Military Honors will follow at 10:30 a.m. Mr. Larry Johnson will officiate. Burial will follow at a later date in the Brooks Cemetery. The family requests masks be worn during the visitation and service. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be determined. Memories and condolences may be left at www.pearsonfuneralhomes.com.
Douglas L. Mercer, the son of Carroll Douglas and Maxine Mae (Carr) Mercer was born Nov. 18, 1949, in Mt. Etna. He graduated from Corning High School with the class of 1967, where he excelled in football, wrestling and baseball. After graduation he attended the University of Northern Iowa.
On Oct. 7, 1968, Doug enlisted into the U.S. Army where he served as a Sergeant E5 Specialist in Vietnam. During his time in the army, he received the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He was honorably discharged July 7, 1970, and was always proud of his service.
On Oct. 22, 1971, Doug married Janet Debra Steadman at the Brooks United Methodist Church. Two boys, Cody and Clay, would bless this union.
Doug was the definition of hard-working and always needed some type of job to do, though he may grumble about it. He worked factory jobs and did carpentry work. However, his true vocation and passion was that of a farmer, working as steward of his land, tending his cattle and crops to provide a simple country life for the family he adored.
He loved the outdoors, hunting deer and turkey, as well as fishing for bass and crappie, which he especially enjoyed with his oldest grandson Briggs. He passed on many lessons learned from this life-long love to his boys when they were young and older grandsons in recent years. These were lessons such as appreciation for mother nature, patience in the hunt and to always be grateful for a day of hunting or fishing, even if you didn’t catch anything.
He liked to watch college football, especially the Iowa State Cyclones. He was a wonderful cook who was known for his angel food cake. The biggest joy in Doug’s life was the time spent with his grandchildren. He was also known to put a smile on the face of anybody that came across him during his days about running errands and he was quick to laugh when talking with friends.
In death, Doug was able to help people in need by giving the gift of life via organ donation.
Left to cherish Doug’s memory are: his wife, Janet Mercer of Corning; sons: Cody (Krissy) Mercer of Port Washington, New York and Clay (Kristyn) Mercer of Corning; grandchildren: Briggs, Mavryk, Colten and Haven; brother, Denny (Deb) Mercer of Waukee; sister, Janice Mercer Leonard of Corning; mother-in-law, Phyllis Steadman of Corning; sisters-in-law: Barbara (John) Cosaert of Madison Wisconsin and Carol (Doug) Olive of Corning; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brother in infancy, Richard; father-in-law: Byron Steadman; sisters-in-law, Linda Jordan and Kathlyn Keever; and brothers-in-law: Kevin Leonard and Bryan Steadman.