Juanita Palmer

Memorial services for Juanita Palmer, age 94 of Albert Lea, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 13, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church.  Rev. Joel Vano will officiate.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  

Juanita died November 10, 2013 at St. John’s Lutheran Community.

Juanita Palmer was born on August 4, 1919 to Otto and Louise (Brummerich) Schmidt at home on the family farm near Lakefield, MN, the youngest of five children.  The family later lived in Hollandale and Alden, where Juanita completed school and met the love of her life, Clayton Palmer, who was her husband for 71 years.  

In addition to raising five children, keeping an immaculate house and doing the bookwork for the family live bait business, Juanita was the consummate gardener, supplying vegetables and harvesting apples from the family orchard for her immediate and extended families.  She enjoyed hunting with the guys – pheasants, geese, moose, deer --  and was featured in an Associated Press news report in the 1950s as a member of the exclusive “2-for-1 Club” when she killed two deer with one shot.

Juanita was a licensed pilot, and along with Clayton, flew the family seaplane around the state to inspect lakes for bait and into the remote areas of Canada for hunting and fishing expeditions.  For 23 years they drove to Alaska and back during the summer months to go fishing.  The largest fish she ever caught was a halibut which weighed just over 200 pounds – twice the weight of Juanita.

Hawaii was the favorite winter getaway for Juanita and Clayton, and they spent 40 winters in Kailua, Kona, where they made long-time friends and enjoyed native foods.  Everyone who visited them from the mainland received a royal welcome – homemade flower leis, tours and history, and great meals.  She was a gracious host to all.

Juanita and Clayton were long-time members at Zion Lutheran and remember its early formation.  Three generations of the family were baptized, confirmed and married at Zion and Juanita remained active in the women’s group and Bible study group; she treasured the daily calls, visits and support from her church family during her final days.

After Clayton died, Juanita moved to Knutson Place Apartments at St John’s Lutheran Home, where she lived independently for five years.   Ever the pioneer woman, she made her own soap, ground her own wheat, baked the best chocolate chip cookies, and kept her freezer filled with food, in case someone dropped by unexpectedly.  She gave up her driver’s license when she was 92 years old and had to cut back on her gardening when she was 93, but only because she got heart palpitations when using the tiller.

Blessed be the memory of this wonderful woman who was our mother, grandma, great-grandma, great-great grandma and friend.    She is survived by children Joan (George) Carlson of Minneapolis, David (Lois) Palmer of Albert Lea, Bruce (Pat) Palmer of Albert Lea, Karen (Dallas) Breamer of King City, OR, and daughter-in-law, Joann Palmer of Albert Lea; 15 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by husband Clayton, son Lloyd, parents, and all her siblings.

Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Knutson Place, St Johns Nursing Home and the Mayo Clinic Hospice team for their loving care and concern during Mom’s final months.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to MN South District – LCMS, “New Mission Starts”, 14301 Grand Ave, Burnsville, MN  55306, attn:  Lu Clemmensen