George Palmer, 88, of Oelwein died Thursday August 8, 2013 at the Buchanan County Health Center in Independence.
Funeral services are Monday August 12, 2013 at 10:30 a.m., at Zion Lutheran Church in Oelwein with Rev. Leo Comb-Lay officiating. He will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein with full Military Honors provided by the American Legion Ross Reid Post 9 of Oelwein.
Visitation is Sunday August 11, 2013 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Geilenfeld Funeral Home in Oelwein.
George was born September 8, 1924 near Hawkeye in rural Fayette County, the son of Jacob and Katherina (Munster) Palmer. He was baptized September 4, 1926 at Hawkeye and confirmed April 2, 1939 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye. After graduation from West Union High School he joined Montgomery Ward and became Department Manager in Oelwein. Later he volunteered for the Army Paratroopers and fought in several battles in New Guinea, Philippines and on to Japan where he was one of the first 280 men there and was awarded several battle citations. After returning to Oelwein, George married Dolores Crowley and was blessed with three sons and two daughters and later divorced.
George owned and operated “Palmer Realty” for 27 years and was often known as the “Land Man”. He was a long-time member of the American Legion, V.F.W., Lions Club, board member of the Oelwein Chamber of Commerce and other civic affairs. His main hobbies were hunting, fishing, traveling, meeting and making new friends. After retiring and moving to Fort Madison, he was united in marriage with Diana Mead on December 10, 1982, and they built several homes while there. They later moved to Branson, MO. Having built several homes in Branson, and having lived there several years, they moved to Florida. Diana passed away after a short illness on July 10, 2002 and George moved back to Oelwein to be with friends and family.
George was marred October 14, 2005 to Verla Meyer. They lived in Oelwein until making their home in Lake Placid, Fla. They moved back to Oelwein in 2010. He will be missed by many people.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Volney, Willis and Kenny; two sisters: Many Ann Lohr and Katherine Bohart.
George is survived by his wife: Verla Palmer of Oelwein; three sons: Dick Palmer (Joy) of CA, Jim Palmer of CA, Patrick Palmer (Nousta) of FL; and two daughters: Jane Palmer (Bill Wente) of Waterloo, and Penny (David) Chase of Tennessee; stepchildren: Connie (Tom) Hamilton of Littleton, Deb Meyer and Kathy (Tim) Jelinek of Oelwein, and Dan (Michelle) Meyer of Lokato, Minn; grandchildren: Sheree Olson of Waterloo, Tiffany Olson of Waterloo, and Sole Rachele of Fl; step grandchildren: Alison Langel of Cedar Rapids, Tara (Jeremiah) Fink of Sumner, Lauren (Brock) Niebuhr, Jared Meyer of Wisconsin, Tyler Meyer of St. Cloud, Minn.; two great-grandsons: Isaiah Olson and Reece Olson of Waterloo; and step-great grandchild: Cole Reznechek of Pineland, Texas.
