Palmer, Barbara Ellen (1952-2016)
PALMER, HODSON, EVERDING, OWEN, KLIMA, HEITTOLA, KUEHLER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/21/2016 at 20:47:34
Barbara Ellen Palmer
July 17, 1952 - September 10, 2016Surrounded by her family, Barbara Ellen Palmer, 64, of Forest City, died on Saturday, September 10, 2016, at her home after a valiant fight with kidney cancer.
A daughter of Dean and Shirley Hodson of rural Forest City, Barbara was born on July 17, 1952, at the Forest City Municipal Hospital, just seven days after the birth of her future husband in the same hospital. She joined her older brother, Steven, to complete their family.
Dean, regrettably, passed away on September 24, 1954. On March 25, 1956, her mother remarried in Lake Mills at the Asbury Methodist Church, this time to William Everding, of Titonka, Iowa. Barb attended and then, in 1970, graduated from Titonka Consolidated School. A member of the National Honor Society, she, also, excelled in track during her junior and senior high school years. Her team went to state several times, and Barb held some school records in track.
After graduating, Barb took up secretarial training at the Spencer School of Business, graduating in May of 1971. That summer, she accepted a position as a billing clerk with the Winnebago Cooperative Telephone Association (WCTA) in Thompson. In 1975, the Rural Telephone Association (RTA), now WCTA, relocated to its new headquarters in Lake Mills.
On July 14, 1973, Barb married Timothy Palmer at Calvary Baptist Church in Forest City. They established their home on the Palmer family farm. In 1980, she left the workplace to begin a family; she and Tim were blessed with two sons, Mark, born April 11, 1980, and Jeffrey, born on March 23, 1984. Barb cared for Jeffrey after his diagnosis of diabetes in September of 1987.
In 1992, Barb became a cook at North Central Human Services and then a secretary at the Forest City Christian School. Later, she worked as a cook at the Victorian House Tea Room and Flora Lynne’s where she learned how to bake her culinary specialty, oatmeal buns. Lastly, she became a part-time cook at the Forest City Elementary School.
A faithful member of her church, Barb, loyally, served as a deaconess, Awana leader, Sunday school teacher, senior high camp counselor, and church treasurer. Having a beautiful voice, she enjoyed singing in the church choir for fifteen years and doing special music. Moreover, she participated in the Mission Circle. On March 30, 1986, she recommitted her life to Christ as her savior.
Barb had a great sense of humor which she demonstrated in the “skits” she and her best friend, Mary Lou Johnson, performed. A prolific reader, she enjoyed doing Sudoku and crossword puzzles to stimulate her mind further, and she loved cooking for family and friends. Moreover, she relished spending time traveling with family and friends on vacations, mission trips, and weekend getaways. In the end, she reached one final goal, holding her new grandson, Knox Owen.
Barb is survived by her loving husband, Tim Palmer, of Forest City; two sons, Mark (Elisha) Palmer, of LaPorte City, Iowa, and Jeffrey Palmer, of Mason City; her grandchildren, Hunter and Gracie Klima, and her new grandson, Knox; her parents, William and Shirley Everding, of Titonka; her brother, Steven Hodson of Lake Mills; and her half-brother and sisters, David (Renee) Everding, of Sibley, Lois Everding (Myron) Heittola, of Bellville, Wisconsin, and Amy Everding (Tim) Kuehler, of Early, Iowa; as well as by many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father and three sets of grandparents, Arnolds, Everdings and Hodsons.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, September 14, 2016, at the Calvary Baptist Church in Forest City with Pastor Doug Farrell officiating. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Wednesday one hour before the services at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Calvary Baptist Church in Forest City.
Copyright © 2016, Cataldo Schott Funeral Home
Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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