John Palmer
Age - 84
October 31, 2023
John William Palmer - b. May 27, 1939 d. October 27, 2023
John was born to John Howard Palmer and Esther Lora (Hill) Palmer at Rock Dell, Minnesota, on May 27, 1939. He was the first of four children. His siblings are David Palmer of Bison, KS, Charles Palmer of Ocala, FL, and Mary Buchanan of Abilene, KS. John was raised as a farmer and dairyman. He married Doris Mae Prohaska on October 4, 1963, and from this union were born John Daniel Palmer, James Dennis Palmer, and Jerry Duane Palmer.
Born into labor, John spent most of his working life in construction and building. In addition to the farming of his youth, he also owned and operated a D8 Caterpillar dozer that he used to clear land, clean out ponds, and do heavy landscaping in Minnesota and Iowa. He was also naturally talented at other heavy equipment including large scrapers, ditchers, loaders, all manner of farm equipment, over-the-road trucking, and highway equipment. During his life he also operated his own concrete construction business. He built everything from sidewalks, to basements, house and building foundations, grain bins, and industrial floors in Minnesota and Kansas. He was proud that he had successfully poured concrete in every month of the year in both states. He also framed houses in Prescott, Arizona, and worked in the oil field around Russell, Kansas. He spent the last 15 years of his regular working career recycling highways in Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, until he "retired" with Doris to operate Maple Springs Campground in southern Minnesota for 15 more years. Together, they transformed a small, locally known campground into the top-rated campground in the entire state of Minnesota.
When he worked for others instead of himself, John always ascended into a supervisory position. He had a natural way of making his employees and subordinates feel valued. Consequently, John was always able to get the best from his men and was rewarded by loyalty from them as they would request to work with him instead of other supervisors. John was patient and a good teacher who worked with his men instead of over them.
John worked in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas, and Florida at different times during his working life. During lean times he also worked as an over-the-road trucker, criss-crossing much of the Lower 48 states and occasionally into Canada.
John worked many and varied jobs to make sure his family was cared for. This also resulted in traveling to find climates more suitable to the health struggles of his children. In 1976, John moved his family to the Alton, KS, area and into Osborne, KS, in 1978, where they have owned a home until his passing.
John enjoyed nature, so loved hunting, fishing, and camping when time allowed. He also enjoyed the company of people, thus card parties, dominoes, food, ice cream, and campfires with friends and family were always highlights of his life.
John was very proud of his family. He was married to Doris for over 60 years. He loved his children and regretted how work prevented him and Doris from being able to spend more time with them and his grandchildren. But John was always very generous with his family, both immediate and extended, when needs arose. He was also very generous to the many churches he and Doris had become a part of as they worked around the country.
As a man of labor, the intangibles of life seemed harder to stand on than the things he could control, but John obeyed the gospel with Doris early in their marriage and continued to hold membership and involvement with churches of Christ throughout his life.
The one struggle John could never overcome was his battle with Parkinson's disease that infiltrated the last 20 years of his life. He fought with everything medical science had to offer and all his stamina until he succumbed on October 27, 2023.
John is survived by his wife Doris, his three siblings, three sons, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He has been cremated and is with family.Show more
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