Gerald Darwin Mercer

Gerald Darwin Mercer (“Jerry”) of Indianapolis, IN, and formerly of Elkhart, IN, and the San Francisco Bay area, died on Sunday, March 8, 2020. He was born October 12, 1941 to Chester N. and Dorothy (Brown) Mercer in Kalamazoo, Michigan and married Ruth Elenor West on September 22, 1963 in Elkhart Indiana.
Jerry is survived by his daughter, Jill M. Mercer and son, John G. Mercer, grandchildren Andrew, Michael, Rachel, Rebecca and Alec Mercer and great granddaughters Morgan, Raelyn, Scarlet, and Elenor. Also surviving are his brother Chester (Deb) Mercer of Elkhart, sister Carol (Ron) Sukolics of Creve Couer, MO, and close friend Anne Overmyer. He was proceeded in death by his wife Ruth, brother Roland (“Sonny”) Mercer and both parents.
Jerry graduated from Jimtown High School and Indiana University South Bend. He was a devoted husband and father, worked nearly 30 years for Miles Laboratories, and served as President of the Elkhart Jaycees during the 1970s. He earned a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, learned to play and then later build the classical guitar, and spent winters skiing at Caberfae in Michigan. In 1990, he moved to San Francisco to join Genencor International as a Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs and put his sailboat Contessa in the San Francisco Bay.
As Commodore of the Palo Alto Yacht Club, he and Ruth experienced “Bigger Boat Syndrome” and moved aboard Nellie McClain, a slightly larger sailboat, for over 8 years. Upon retirement, they moved to Arnold, California in the Central Sierra Nevada Foothills, where Jerry operated a music store, “Mercer’s Acoustic Attic” and became an accomplished Luthier. In 2012 he and Ruth returned to Indiana to be closer to family, where he also worked on his 1964 Chevy Corvair. Back in Indiana Jerry kept up his fitness through Rock Steady Boxing classes. He also continued his work as a luthier, building several guitars, ukuleles and Cajon box drums. He was a member of the Indianapolis Society of the Classical Guitar.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday March 11, 2020 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis at 6 pm, with visitation from 4:30 to 6 pm.
Memorials to Rock Steady Boxing at 7440 N. Shadeland Avenue, Ste. 202, Indianapolis, IN 46250 or www.rocksteadyboxing.org
Arrangements: Indiana Funeral Care