Elmer PALS

PALS, SWEEDE, GOEMEN, WADDINGHAM, MONSON, DORENKAMP

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 6/10/2009 at 09:33:41

Elmer Pals 1915-2002

April 24, 2002
Belmond Independent, Iowa

Elmer Pals, 86, died on Thursday, April 18, 2002, at his home in Thornton. Funeral services were held on Monday, April 22, at the Salem United Methodist Church in Meservey. Jan Christianson was organist with Lois and Terry Long vocalists. Casket bearers were Trent Pals, Trevor Pals, Mark Oxley, Andrew Pals, Douglas Pals and Derrick Reynolds.

Elmer was born on October 25, 1915 in rural Thornton, to Harm J. and Alida Sweede Goemen Pals. He attended the Wisner Township School through the eighth grade and graduated from the Meservey High School. He married Marcele Waddingham at the Meservey Reformed Church Parsonage on August 20, 1936. They farmed in the Meservey and Thornton areas for 41 years. Most of these years were on the family farm which was certified as a century farm in 1992. Upon retirement, Elmer and Marcele moved to Thornton. They wintered in Dade City, Florida the past ten years. Elmer helped build the first lighted softball diamond in Meservey and helped start several youth baseball programs. He served on the Meservey-Thornton School Board. In 1950 he was instrumental in helping his church sponsor the Lipin family from Latvia, as they came to America to begin a new life. Elmer was a long time member of the Meservey (EUB) United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday School for 40 years.

Elmer is survived by his wife, Marcele of 65 years; four children, Dallas (Kaye) Pals who live on the family farm, Deloris (Roger) Monson of Nevada, Larry (Darlene) Pals of Cocoa Beach, Florida and Gary (Carla) Pals of Clinton; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Ruth Waddingham of Meservey and Ruth Dorenkamp of Clear Lake. Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Hajo, Harm, Albert, Lambert and John; grandson, Jeffery Pals; and brothers-in-law, Wayne Waddingham and Lewis Dorenkamp.