Clayton D. Palmer

Clayton D. Palmer was born on September 20, 1917 to Edgar and Doris Adams Palmer in Fairmont, MN where he spent his younger years. As a teenager he moved to Alden with his family, graduated from high school, and met the love of his life – Juanita Schmidt. Clayton and Juanita were married on March 6, 1937 in Canton, SD. They moved to Albert Lea where Clayton owned and operated a furniture store with his father in the early 1940's. Fishing and hunting were his passion in life and he soon became known in the area for operating a live bait business, with customers throughout the country. He held government patents on his cloverleaf trap, used by commercial fishermen, and his stackable goose and duck decoys, which were manufactured in Kiester in the 1950's. He and Juanita were both licensed pilots and flew their own plane for hunting and fishing expeditions. Clayton was a charter member of Zion Lutheran Church and served on the building committee. He spent 40 winters in Kailua Kona, Hawaii with Juanita; when they flew home he packed their trailer and headed for Alaska for six weeks on their quest for blueberries, salmon, halibut, and crab. Clayton and Juanita celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in March one week before he died. He always said, "If you've got your health and a good family, you've got it all." He was fun, inquisitive, loving, and devoted to his family. Survivors include his wife, Juanita; children, Lloyd JoAnn Palmer of Albert Lea, Joan George Carlson of Minneapolis, David Lois Palmer of Albert Lea, Bruce Pat Palmer of Albert Lea, and Karen Dallas Breamer of Portland, OR; 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Kathryn Chrs of Florida, Lois Ray Karge of Albert Lea, and Marion Randall of Oregon; brother Richard Carmen Palmer of Kansas; and many nieces and nephews. Clayton was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ellen Thompson; and brothers, Donald and Roscoe Palmer. In lieu of flowers memorial are preferred to the Zion Lutheran elevator fund.