Mervin Allen Dick
Mervin Allen Dick was born in Delft, Minnesota on June 18, 1940. He was the firstborn of Anton and Viola Dick. He grew up on a farm where many hours were spent working and playing with brothers, Ron and Jim, and sister, Loretta. He accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at a young age and was later water baptized and joined the Carson Mennonite Brethren Church. In high school he participated in 4H and raised pigs which were judged at the county fair. Mervin also had interests in music, drama, speech and debate, and prank playing with friends.
In 1958 after graduation from Mountain Lake High School, he attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kansas, planning to become an ag teacher. This goal was intercepted when in the hallways of Tabor, science teacher, Dr. Sol Loewen, cornered Mervin and asked, “Have you ever considered going into the ministry?” This encounter caused Mervin to think about a calling that had been suppressed. After his junior year he spent the summer as a student minister in Compton, Arkansas, confirming his commitment to prepare for ministry.
Mervin was very well liked and popular. Mervin was known as a jokester and played many pranks, sometimes to the dismay of some of the college professors. He continued to enjoy music as he sang in the Tabor College choir and men's octet. He joined the debate team and competed with his partner on the national level. He also acted in many of Tabor’s plays, where he got to know Jane Lautt from Harvey, North Dakota, who was working on the sets for the plays. With the encouragement of roommates, they began dating in their sophomore year. By his senior year things were getting serious with Jane. They were married two weeks after college graduation on June 3, 1962 in Harvey, North Dakota.
They immediately began their first ministry assignment in Keif, North Dakota. The next June, son Kevin Dwight was added to the family. It was after Kevin’s birth that they moved to Fresno, California for Mervin to continue his studies at the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. The following June, daughter Kora Jean was born.
After completing seminary in May of 1966, Mervin and Jane accepted a call to pastor the Mennonite Brethren Church in Weatherford, Oklahoma. After 2 years of ministry they left many dear and life-long friends, accepting the call from the young Mennonite Brethren church in Edmond, Oklahoma. During these early days in Edmond, Mervin was also a social worker for the state of Oklahoma. They again felt the Lord’s call to move on and relocate to pastor the New Hope Mennonite Brethren Church in Minnesota in 1974. His interest in pacifism, the peace movement, and meeting the needs of the poor grew during these years. He also served as a community police chaplain during this time. Then in January of 1980 Mervin accepted the call to pastor the Butler Avenue Mennonite Brethren Church in Fresno, California where he served for 4 years.
Mervin felt ready for a change in ministry after 18 years of pastoring. In the summer of 1984 he accepted the job as Mennonite Urban Minister in Denver, Colorado. Together Mervin and Jane ministered in the inner city of Denver for many years. He helped establish the Joseph’s Storehouse Fund which provides financial resources all year long for the needy on Denver’s west side. He received recognition and numerous awards for his work with the poor of Denver. After 17 years Mervin resigned as Mennonite Urban Minister, but continued as district conference minister and later as interim pastor for Mennonite Community Church in Fresno, CA and East Holbrook, Boulder, Arvada, and Glennon Heights, all churches in Colorado. Denver truly became home as this was the longest they had ever stayed in one job and one location. They enjoyed many of the benefits of living in a big city; attending many plays, concerts, and symphonies downtown.
In 2003, Mervin and Jane purchased a home in Frederick, just north of Denver. During their 12 years in Frederick they ministered to their community through a Bible study, grief support group, newcomer breakfast, and befriending many neighbors. They also were active in supporting the Hmong community in establishing a Mennonite church in the Denver area. During this time Mervin spent one year driving Jane to and from every doctor, chemo, and radiation appointment as she battled colon cancer. He prayed that God would give them 10 more years of life together. God graciously answered that prayer and gave them 14 more.
In 2016 they sold their home and decided to move closer to their daughter, Kora. They settled at the Panorama Pointe community where they got involved in weekly breakfasts and other social activities. Mervin continued his love for music and sang in a senior community choir for a year. Around this time Mervin finally officially retired and began to slow down.
Mervin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease early in 2017. The year 2020 was a difficult one beginning with a fall in February that resulted in a broken hip and required surgery. In March he moved into an assisted living memory care home where he lived until his death. He left this earth and into the arms of his heavenly Father on Thanksgiving evening, November 26, 2020. As granddaughter Erin said, “I can just imagine him meeting Bonhoeffer and C.S. Lewis and all the great theologians he loved and having marvelous conversations. He’ll go to every symphony and sing loudly in his tenor voice in choirs of angels with exuberance and joy.” We rejoice knowing he is no longer confused and in pain. He is whole once again, enjoying the presence of the Lord he loved and served.
Mervin will be remembered for his sense of humor and hearty laugh. He will also be remembered as a man of many talents and interests. If you needed anything to be fixed, Mervin was the man to do it! And no one could tell a story better than Mervin. He always had a book or two in his hand. Fellow pastors would ask him what he was reading, as he was known to be a frontrunner in his forward thinking on theology and ministry. His passion for serving the poor and his work for peace and justice were well known. Spending time with family was a priority. He loved watching the family as his children married and had children of their own.
Mervin is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane; son Kevin and Judy Dick of Sioux Falls, SD; daughter Kora and Les Flaming of Denver, Colorado. Six grandchildren: Lynelle (Dusty) Jorgenson, Mychelle Smith, Erin (Matt) Spurgeon, Noelle (Sam) McGee, Timothy (Sarah) Flaming, Shayla Dick. Six great grandchildren: Elle Jane Smith, Luke and Ryan Spurgeon, Lily and Rachel Flaming, and Sophie McGee. He is also survived by his siblings: Ronald (Sandra) Dick, James (Diane) Dick, and Loretta (Bernard) Larson.
Memorial contributions in Mervin’s honor can be made to Joseph's Storehouse, First Mennonite Church, 430 W. 9th Ave. Denver, CO 80204.
A celebration of life is being planned in Denver, Colorado on July 10, 2021. Please mark your calendars and plan to attend!