The family moved to Lincoln, Nebraska when he was about 2 years old. He attended Lincoln Public Schools and graduated from Northeast High School in 1962 where he played on the state championship football team and earned All-State honors and played in the Shrine Bowl. In 1967 he graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University where he also played football and earned the Outstanding Freshman Award and several other honors. Mick was inducted into the Northeast and Wesleyan Halls of Fame for football. He was also the first FCA Coach of the Year. The post-collegiate sport of choice for Mick and many of those guys who had played together for years, was slow-pitch softball. A team was formed, and of course, they won many games, tournaments and state championships.
On December 28, 1967 Mick married Jane Frey from Gordon, Nebraska. They were blessed with a son, Cory, twin daughters Monica and Michaelle and a third daughter Amanda. Their four children married and went on to have fourteen grandchildren who filled their golden years with unending joy and activity. Cory and his wife Nikky have 4 sons, Silas, Dominic, Dante and Brody. Monica has a daughter Alexis and two sons, Sam and Luke. Michaelle has two daughters, Faith and Rebecca, and one son, Carter. Amanda and Austin have 3 sons, Pierce, Porter and Cole and one daughter, Lena.
Mick began his coaching career at Valparaiso in his last year at Wesleyan and was hired to also teach at the soon-to-be consolidated Raymond Central High School teaching history and art. He continued his career teaching psychology and history and coaching at North Bend Central High School for two years, then finished at Lincoln Southeast until he retired in 2004. His 1981 Southeast wrestling team placed third at State, which is still the highest finish for a Southeast wrestling team.
Mick became involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He became huddle leader at North Bend and Southeast High Schools. It was integral in the growth of Mick’s Christian faith through his relationships with other Christian coaches and athletes.
Mick’s summer jobs were working with the Amateur Athletic Union helping organize national and international wrestling tournaments that were held in Lincoln. In the summer of 1975 there was an international cultural exchange for wrestling teams with several foreign countries. Mick went with the team traveling to Turkey where he formed a friendship with a Turkish wrestler who came to Lincoln, obtained his US citizenship, graduated from UNO and ultimately wrestled for the United States at the 1984 Olympics, finishing in fourth place.
During the international exchange, Mick met a wrestling coach from Maine and a short time later they started the Nebraska-Maine Wrestling Exchange for high school wrestlers, which is still going on today.
After retiring from coaching many of you may have heard his booming voice announcing at many athletic events for Lincoln Public Schools.
Mick became a regional spokesperson for the Voice of the Martyrs, which is an organization seeking financial and spiritual support for persecuted Christians around the world. He spoke in several local churches helping bring awareness about the atrocities being carried out around the world in many countries that are hostile to Christianity.
In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Mick is also survived by his brother-in-law Darrell Frey, three nieces, seven nephews and many extended family members. Mick was preceded in death by his parents, Silas and Virginia Pierce and sister Connie Pierce.
Visitation with family will be held on Sunday, January, 8, 2023, from 4:00-6:00 p.m.
Celebration of Life will be held 2:00 p.m., January 9, 2023.
All services will be held at Cross the Line Church 5925 Adams Street, Lincoln, NE.
Memorials may be given to the family in c/o Roper and Sons Funeral Home.