Gene Palmer

Eugene Palmer was not someone consumed by material gains in life but by the satisfaction of putting his family and friends first and doing the best job he could with whatever task was at hand. Gene served his country as a member of the United States Navy, his community as a respected businessman, and his family as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. He set the standard for others to follow.

1922 was a year filled with events that would change our culture forever. The first successful use of insulin to treat diabetes astounded the medical community, while the discovery of King Tutankhamen’s tomb in Egypt astounded the entire world. In Lakeview, Michigan, located in Montcalm County on beautiful Tamarak Lake, Gabriel and Bernice (Blanding) Palmer were concerned with neither of these events. As hard-working parents, they were more concerned with providing a loving home for their four children – Joyce, Katherine, Jerry and Ruth - and making preparations for the arrival of number five. On December 11, 1922, the family welcomed the birth of a baby boy they named Eugene. Over the next several years, Eugene, or “Gene”, was joined by two brothers, Richard and Stuart, and the Palmer family was complete.

Times were tough for everyone growing up in the days of the Depression, even more so for large families. Gene attended Stocking Elementary school and Creston High School. While in high school, he worked as a caddie at the Kent Country Club to earn extra money. He also had a job at American Seating. However, when World War II began, with Great Britain and France declaring war on Germany, Gene left high school to join the Navy. Entering the Navy on November 23, 1942, Gene served in the South Pacific in Okinawa, site of the largest amphibious invasion of the Pacific campaign and the last major campaign of the Pacific War.

During high school, Gene met and fell for a beautiful young lady named Marian Smith. The distances of war did nothing to diminish their relationship and on July 31, 1944, they were married in Norfolk, Virginia. Gene was discharged on December 16, 1945, but the joy of being home was shadowed by the death of his father that same year.

After his discharge, Gene and Marian set up housekeeping with his mother on National Street in Grand Rapids while they worked on building their own home on Fuller Avenue. Gene found a job at the House of Color, a paint store on Wealthy St. where he learned the home painting and decorating business. With a new home and a new job, Gene and Marian were ready to become parents. They were blessed with three wonderful children – Cheryl, born in 1945, Lee born in 1946 and Steve, born in 1955.

With a growing family to support, Gene decided to start his own business – Key Decorating – with his partner, Gerritt Tepaste. This proved to be a very good move and the business was very successful. His company completely refurbished the Gerber Home in Fremont, Michigan, now an historical museum, and worked on decorating the Pantlind Hotel, applying gold leaf to the ceiling of the ballroom. Gene Palmer was definitely a very skilled and talented man.

But Gene was not all work and no play. He loved his family and spending time with them was very important. He was a Scout Master when his sons were in Boy Scouts. Family vacations were always something to look forward, and they traveled to places like Tennessee, Virginia and Washington, D.C. The entire Palmer family got together every year for a wonderful family reunion at Bostwick Lake, 13 miles northeast of Grand Rapids. Boating, fishing - there was always something for everyone. Gene, especially, like to fish for trout, and took several fishing trips to Canada. He was a huge Detroit Tigers fan, and when he couldn’t make it to the ballpark to watch a game in person, he could be found glued to the television set.

A man of many talents, Gene was also blessed with a wonderful singing voice. He and his brothers loved to sing together and entertained at the family reunions. Gene was a member of a Barber Shop Quartet for many years and was active in the SPEBSQSA – the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.

Gene and Marian divorced in 1974 but Gene found love again in 1976. This was when he met Geraldine Hosford. They dated for several months and were married on June 11, 1977. Geraldine had four children from a prior marriage and several grandchildren. Gene welcomed them all with open arms and getting together for the holidays was something they all looked forward to.

Gene and Geraldine lived on Westview NW in Grand Rapids and Gene continued with his painting company. After thirty years in the business, Gene retired in 1988. Now he had even more time for his hobbies and interests.

He loved his grandchildren and always looked forward to their visits. His gardens were beautiful and bountiful – filled with peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and many varieties of flowers. An avid reader, he read the Reader’s Digest and the National Geographic Magazine from cover to cover. Besides his beloved Tiger’s games, he also enjoyed watching “Jeopardy”, “Wheel of Fortune”, “The Price is Right”, and “Who Wants to Be A Millionaire?”

Gene had suffered numerous health issues through the years, but always kept a positive spirit. From bladder cancer in 1999 to a stroke in 2004 and a broken hip this past summer, Gene never gave up. In spite of being sidelined by asthma, emphysema and congestive heart failure, Gene bravely greeted each day. With his health diminishing, Gene moved in with his daughter Cheryl, enabling his wife to keep working to provide them with health insurance. Cheryl's tender loving care brightened Gene’s days and he looked forward to visits from Geraldine and the grandchildren. With his family by his side, Gene Palmer died Friday morning, November 9, 2007.

Gene was a wonderful husband, father and loving grandfather. He was generous with his affection, helped anyone who needed it and would do anything for any one. He loved his family and was a wonderful role model for his children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Eugene “Gene” R. Palmer aged 84 of Grand Rapids, is survived by his wife of 30 years, Geraldine Palmer, his children, Cheryl Byrne, Lee (Gay) Palmer; step children, Linda (Dwight) West, Richard (Lori) Hosford, Lyle (Kathy) Hosford, William (Virginia) Hosford; 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; his brothers and sister, Jerry Palmer, Ruth Kishefsky, Stuart (Joyce) Palmer; several nieces nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Steve Palmer, his sisters, Joyce Kane and Katherine Baisch and his brother Richard Palmer. A service to celebrate Gene’s life will be held on Thursday afternoon November 15 at 1:00 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Burial in Resurrection Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet his family at the funeral home on Tuesday evening from 7-9 and on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. Contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice of Michigan. To sign Gene’s guest book and to leave your own memory of him, visit his web page at www.lifestorynet.com.