1932
Robert
2017
Robert H. Palmer
November 28, 1932 — January 15, 2017
Robert H. Palmer Jr.
Robert Henry Palmer Jr, was born on November 28, 1932, in his parents’ home in the northern part of Driftwood Township in rural Rawlins County, KS. He passed away on January 15, 2017, in Benkelman, NE. His parents were Roy J. “Buzz” and Delphia M. Goudy Palmer. His health had been deteriorating for several years.
He was raised on the farm where he was born, attending country school about a mile from the home with his brothers, sister, and neighborhood children. His mother passed away in 1940 when he was 7. Buzz married Ellen Buk, a close family friend, on March 22, 1945. RH started attending school in Atwood, graduating in 1951. During the Korean conflict, he went to enlist in the military, but due to a heart condition that he had from birth, he was not accepted into the military.
He went to live with family in western Colorado and picked up work in a gas station prior to going to work in the logging industry, where he stayed several years. He left the logging industry and went to work with Rippe Construction doing roadwork.
Attending a dance with a cousin, he met Barbara J. Goodrich. The two fell in love, marrying a few days after Barbara’s graduation from high school in Telluride on May 31, 1958. The construction jobs moved from town to town, and the couple went with the work, even moving the trailer house and family on one occasion overnight. RH got off work early when his employer told him that he was needed at the new site at 7 a.m. the next day. He went to the trailer, returned rented goods, disconnected the utilities, and connected the trailer to his truck. They drove to the new town and found a place to set up the trailer. He had to leave to go to work before the trailer was completely set up and came home later in the day to finish the task.
The construction job ended, and he found himself unemployed, with a job lead in another state. The young couple connected once again to the trailer house and headed to the family farm to visit. Near the Kansas border, the trailer house overturned. Once it was up righted, they decided to establish a home in Atwood, where RH worked several jobs in a filling station and as a mechanic for Jensen’s and Worthy Implement & Motor Company. In 1968, he went to work for the Kansas Department of Transportation. He retired in 1994 with 25 years of service.
Since retirement, RH kept busy with personal projects and helping others with theirs when the opportunity was presented. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and helping his boys with swim team by becoming a meet manager and referee and helping operate the Atwood Swim Meet for several years. He was a tinkerer and loved being a mechanic. He was most proud of taking a bunch of discarded “stuff” and turning it into something useful as evidenced by corral panels on the farm made from discarded oil field sucker rod and most recently a clock on the wall in the bathroom.
His memberships were with the Atwood Masonic Lodge #164, Radiant Chapter 229 Order of Eastern Star, and the First Christian Church, all in Atwood.
RH and Barbara have three children: Roy W. “Buzz” (Bonnie) of Weir, KS; Brett P. (Bette) of Rural Rawlins County; and Robert J. (Debbie) of Franklin, KY.
Grandchildren include Buzz’s children Chad, Rachel, and Nicholas; Brett’s children RJ, James, Laurie, and Billy; and Robert’s children Damon, Meghan, Hailee, Jason, and Shannon. Great grandchildren are Ben, Olivia, Cameron; Braelyn, Rayne, Caroline, Willow James; Kadence, Thaddeus, Weston, Bentlee, Gavin, Alexis, and Finley.
Along with his descendants, RH’s three older siblings, LeRoy (Mozelle) of Tatum, TX; Leo of Wasilla, AK; and Merle Wolf of Colby survive.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Barbara; his mother, Dephia; his father, Roy J. “Buzz”; and his stepmother, Ellen.
Services are at 2 p.m. on January 19, 2017, at the First Christian Church in Atwood, KS, with Reverend David Todd officiating. Music includes “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace,” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” A solo of “In The Garden” will be performed by Richard Smith.
A memorial has been established in Robert’s memory.
On line condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com
BENKELMAN MEMORIAL CHAPEL ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS
Robert Henry Palmer Jr, was born on November 28, 1932, in his parents’ home in the northern part of Driftwood Township in rural Rawlins County, KS. He passed away on January 15, 2017, in Benkelman, NE. His parents were Roy J. “Buzz” and Delphia M. Goudy Palmer. His health had been deteriorating for several years.
He was raised on the farm where he was born, attending country school about a mile from the home with his brothers, sister, and neighborhood children. His mother passed away in 1940 when he was 7. Buzz married Ellen Buk, a close family friend, on March 22, 1945. RH started attending school in Atwood, graduating in 1951. During the Korean conflict, he went to enlist in the military, but due to a heart condition that he had from birth, he was not accepted into the military.
He went to live with family in western Colorado and picked up work in a gas station prior to going to work in the logging industry, where he stayed several years. He left the logging industry and went to work with Rippe Construction doing roadwork.
Attending a dance with a cousin, he met Barbara J. Goodrich. The two fell in love, marrying a few days after Barbara’s graduation from high school in Telluride on May 31, 1958. The construction jobs moved from town to town, and the couple went with the work, even moving the trailer house and family on one occasion overnight. RH got off work early when his employer told him that he was needed at the new site at 7 a.m. the next day. He went to the trailer, returned rented goods, disconnected the utilities, and connected the trailer to his truck. They drove to the new town and found a place to set up the trailer. He had to leave to go to work before the trailer was completely set up and came home later in the day to finish the task.
The construction job ended, and he found himself unemployed, with a job lead in another state. The young couple connected once again to the trailer house and headed to the family farm to visit. Near the Kansas border, the trailer house overturned. Once it was up righted, they decided to establish a home in Atwood, where RH worked several jobs in a filling station and as a mechanic for Jensen’s and Worthy Implement & Motor Company. In 1968, he went to work for the Kansas Department of Transportation. He retired in 1994 with 25 years of service.
Since retirement, RH kept busy with personal projects and helping others with theirs when the opportunity was presented. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and helping his boys with swim team by becoming a meet manager and referee and helping operate the Atwood Swim Meet for several years. He was a tinkerer and loved being a mechanic. He was most proud of taking a bunch of discarded “stuff” and turning it into something useful as evidenced by corral panels on the farm made from discarded oil field sucker rod and most recently a clock on the wall in the bathroom.
His memberships were with the Atwood Masonic Lodge #164, Radiant Chapter 229 Order of Eastern Star, and the First Christian Church, all in Atwood.
RH and Barbara have three children: Roy W. “Buzz” (Bonnie) of Weir, KS; Brett P. (Bette) of Rural Rawlins County; and Robert J. (Debbie) of Franklin, KY.
Grandchildren include Buzz’s children Chad, Rachel, and Nicholas; Brett’s children RJ, James, Laurie, and Billy; and Robert’s children Damon, Meghan, Hailee, Jason, and Shannon. Great grandchildren are Ben, Olivia, Cameron; Braelyn, Rayne, Caroline, Willow James; Kadence, Thaddeus, Weston, Bentlee, Gavin, Alexis, and Finley.
Along with his descendants, RH’s three older siblings, LeRoy (Mozelle) of Tatum, TX; Leo of Wasilla, AK; and Merle Wolf of Colby survive.
He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Barbara; his mother, Dephia; his father, Roy J. “Buzz”; and his stepmother, Ellen.
Services are at 2 p.m. on January 19, 2017, at the First Christian Church in Atwood, KS, with Reverend David Todd officiating. Music includes “How Great Thou Art,” “Amazing Grace,” and “The Old Rugged Cross.” A solo of “In The Garden” will be performed by Richard Smith.
A memorial has been established in Robert’s memory.
On line condolences can be left at liewerfuneralhome.com
BENKELMAN MEMORIAL CHAPEL ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert H. Palmer, please visit our flower store.
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