Kenneth J. "Red" Palm 1918-2009

PALM, ROSKOP, THEOHARRIS, WOLTER, DONATH, SCHMIT, TRILK, BOEEVER, GRAHAM, POTHOFF, VONDRAN, HOUSELOG, MILLER, EHLINGER, ABITZ, CLASEN, NASEMAN, TIERNEY, OBRIEN, SIMON, MAAS, HILKIN, MELLON

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 3/2/2019 at 13:00:08

From the December 10, 2009 edition of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald

Kenneth J. "Red" Palm, 91, of 1000 S. Grandview Ave., died Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at St. Columbkille's Catholic Church. Burial will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, where military rites will be accorded by the Dubuque Marine Corp. League. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Siegert-Casper Colonial Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 390 N. Grandview Ave., where there will be a parish scripture wake service at 2 p.m.

He was born on July 2, 1918, in Laudville, Iowa, son of Leborius and Helen (Roskop) Palm. On May 15, 1948, He married June Theoharris on May 15, 1948; she preceded him in death on Feb. 29, 2004.

Ken served in the South Pacific, during World War II, with the Navy.

After the service, he owned and operated Ken Palm Construction for many years and later worked as an independent contractor for various construction companies.

He was a lifelong member of St. Columbkille Parish, a member of the Carpenters Union Local 678, Machinist Union Local 1238, Teamsters Union Local 421 and the Musicians Union. Ken also was a member of the Tri-State Antique Car Club and drove his cars and motorcycles in numerous parades throughout the tri-state area. He was a musician who started the Red Palm Combo. His band played in various nightclubs for many years, including Timmerman's Supper Club. He also played in the Will Thorpe Orchestra.

Ken enjoyed sitting on his front porch and visiting with people who strolled by on Grandview Avenue. He was a true gentleman, always caring for the welfare of others. He will be greatly missed.

Surviving are his children, Karen (Dennis) Wolter, of Peosta, Iowa, Marolyn "Cookie" (Don) Donath, Kathy (Dan) Schmit, Darlene Trilk, Jolene Boever and Kenny (Connie) Palm Jr., all of Dubuque; his grandchildren, Tammy (Hugh) Graham, Tina (Wayne) Pothoff, Donna (Dan) Vondran, Jim (Laura) Wolter, Becky (Darrell) Houselog, Dione (Craig) Miller, Tod (Amy) Wolter, Don (Susan) Wolter, Tracy (Jason) Eide, Heath Donath, Heather (Brian) Ehlinger, Rachel Abitz, Sarah (Cory) Clasen, Angie (Nick) Naseman, Eric Schmit, Marcy (Steve) Tierney, Wesley (Tina) Schmit, Jennifer Trilk, Rob (Carissa) Trilk, Ashley J. Boever, Adam M. Boever and Colin O'Brien; 47 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; a sister, Dorothy Simon, of Santa Clarita, Calif.; and a sister-in-law, Penny Palm, of Dubuque.

He also was preceded in death by two sons-in-law, Minor Maas and Bob Trilk; four brothers, Robert, Clifford, Leroy and Cletus Palm; and three sisters, Marie Noel, Callista Hilkin and Violet Mellon.