Monte Merrill Mercer

Monte Merrill Mercer, 80, of North Julesburg, CO (Deuel County Nebraska) passed away on November 18, 2020. Monte was born in Julesburg, CO on July 26, 1940 and grew up in nearby Big Springs, NE. The son of Merrill and Reatha Mercer, Monte was a precocious youngster who would say he was raised in a bar. That was pretty accurate as his parents owned Mercer Tavern. After school, he would show up at the bar, raid the soda cooler and listen to the locals tell stories and teach him dirty jokes. Monte had a wonderful and free childhood. He would spend hours during the summer months riding horses with his brothers and buddies in the nearby South Platte River. At an early age, Monte learned the importance of hard work. In addition to owning the local tavern, Monte’s parents raised cattle and operated a livestock trucking business. One of Monte’s jobs as a kid was to shovel out all manure from his Dad’s semi truck. He grew up very quickly in that environment; so quickly in fact that he graduated from Big Springs HS in 1957 at the tender young age of 16. While in high school, Monte would excel on the football field and on the track. He was blessed with such great speed that he was coined “The Blonde Comet” and to this day owns the Big Springs 100 yd dash record. On the gridiron, Monte was a unanimous Omaha World-Herald/Lincoln Journal Star All-State halfback on the 1956 state championship team; Big Springs’ lone title in school history. His exploits on the field and the track would earn him a scholarship to compete in both sports at Kearney State College. In high school, Monte would also be introduced to a beautiful young lady named Janice Lavonne Condy; she would become the love of his life. There was a problem however. Monte was from “the other side of the tracks” in the eyes of Ralph and Lois Condy. Janice was so in love with Monte that she would ignore her parent’s concerns. Monte would stay in Kearney for only two years as his heart strings were being pulled back to Julesburg where Janice was waiting. The two were married on July 9, 1961. By now Ralph and Lois were “all in” as they grew to love the wonderful man who was unconditionally devoted to their daughter. Monte would embark on a lifelong career with KN Energy and the newlyweds purchased the home a few miles north of Julesburg that would serve as the place to start a family but would become the foundation and benchmark for what it really means to be a “family”. Monte was passionate about horses and also had other animals on the property. There were cattle and sheep among others and the three young children would learn a lot about working hard, being accountable, and about being family. After retirement, Monte loved riding his horse on trail rides through the sandhills of Nebraska or along the Oregon Trail near Ash Hollow. Over the years Monte’s three children Barry, Merrillee (Missy), and Brady would all become great athletes in their own right as they all inherited that “Blonde Comet” speed. They would all marry and have their own children. To this day, Monte’s six grandchildren have never been anywhere else on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning than the little homestead two miles north of Julesburg. Monte wanted all his kids and grandkids at his house for Christmas. During the holidays 14 people would stay in his tiny one bathroom home and he wouldn’t have it any other way. Monte always chose the simple life, had no interest in computers and even carried the same 15 year old flip phone until the day he passed. Monte was a get down on your hands and knees kind of a grampy. He would get in the pool and have the grandkids jump into his arms. He taught them to ride horses. He picked a couple of them up at the same time; one on each of those tanned muscular arms. There are many more examples, too numerous to mention. When Barry, Missy, and Brady all located to Arvada, CO Monte and Janice would put thousands of miles on their car to watch the grandkids play in sports of their own, to celebrate their birthdays, and to just be family. Monte was terrified of heights and not a fan of air travel. In fact, he never set foot on an airplane. However, one fateful day Monte experienced a medical emergency and had to be airlifted by helicopter to Greeley Hospital. The entire family was quite sure it would be the ice breaker needed to ensure future trips on airplanes. To no one's surprise, that never happened. Monte would lose the love of his life Janice to cancer in 2011. His broken heart probably never really recovered. He would find new ways to occupy his time in addition to the many trips to Arvada and Laramie, Wyoming. He began to have a morning routine that was becoming so regular that his buddies and other Julesburg residents could set their watches to. In the Julesburg café the seat where he always sat would have a fresh cup of coffee sitting there waiting for him. If a non-regular happened to plop down in that seat, the regulars would warn “you better get up before Monte gets here”. If Monte was late, they would call his cell phone and if he didn’t answer they would call one of his kids to see if maybe he went to Arvada without telling anyone. They were concerned for him. They looked out for him. They loved him and he cherished his community. As stated many times, family is Monte and Jan Mercer’s greatest legacy. For the foreseeable future Barry, Missy, and Brady’s families intend to continue being the tight knit bunch that comes to Julesburg for Christmas. Only now, the seat on the porch that always had Grampy in it when he was given an ETA will be empty. That same seat was always occupied whenever the cars were pulling out to go back to Arvada. And now that great smile and wave will be dearly missed by all. Monte Merrill Mercer was preceded in death by his wife Janice, father Merrill Mercer, mother Reatha Mercer, brothers Marvin (Cotton) Mercer and Dave Mercer. He is survived by brother Dan Mercer (JoEllen) son Barry (daughter in law Yvonne), daughter Missy Wingard (son in law Dan), son Brady (daughter in law Katie), and six grandchildren Wyatt Mercer, Cole Mercer, Dani Wingard, Andrew Wingard, Reece Mercer, Skylar Mercer, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Monte will be laid to rest next to his beloved Janice in Big Springs, NE and a celebration of his life will be held at a future date when current social restrictions are relaxed. A memorial in honor of Monte will be determined at a later date. All cards can be sent to: Mercer Family 6987 Orchard Ct, Arvada, CO 80007