Palmer, James Orville (1927 - 2005)

PALMER, CLARK, GRAM, COOKSLEY, ANDERS, NICHOLS, ZIELIE, HAMAND, WELTON, DAVES, COYIER

Posted By: Gayle P. Snow (email)
Date: 2/25/2024 at 17:16:24

James Orville Palmer, 78, of Mason City, Iowa died Monday, April 18, 2005 at the Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City. Services were held Thursday, April 21, at the Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, with the Rev. Kenneth Gehling officiating. Interment was in Elmwood Cemetery, Mason City, with military honors by Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Family suggests memorials to James O. Palmer Memorial Fund.

Jim was born March 19, 1927 in Orthel Township, rural Hancock County, Iowa the son of Paul M. and Mildred L. (Clark) Palmer. He married Anna Gram in 1943. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served during WWII as a carpenters mate third class.

Following the service he moved back to Iowa and worked for the Clear Lake Bakery, Omar Wonder Company and was then a foreman for Nash Finch Company in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, Iowa.

He married Catherine "Katie" Cooksley April 2, 1966 in SanBernadino, Calif. They moved to the Mason City area where he drove semi for various companies, until his retirment in 1989.

Jim enjoyed fishing, camping, watching sports, playing cards and especially spending time with his family and grandchildren.

He was a member of Mason City V.F.W. Post 733, Muddy Pond CB Club and River City Tri Club where his handle was known as Double D.

Jim is survived by his wife, Katie Palmer, Mason City; four children, Lester Palmer and his wife, Judy, Cedar Falls, Iowa, Star Anders and her husband, Neal, East Moline, Ill., Michael Palmer, Mason City, and Jeffrey Palmer and his wife, Jean, Waterloo; two brothers, Willard Palmer and his wife, Doris, Holland, Iowa, Paul Palmer Jr. and his wife, Loretta, Webb City, Mo.; four sisters, Ruth Nichols and her husband, Gordon, Clear Lake, Pauline Zielie, Mason City, Bernice Hamand, LaGrange, Ky. and Jan Welton, Downey, Calif.; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother; infant sister; two sisters, Irma Daves and Evelyn Coyier and one grandson, Matthew Palmer. Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, Mason City, was in charge of arrangements.