Don Palmer, 93, of Jefferson, Iowa, passed away peacefully at Greene County Medical Center on Saturday, February 15, 2025. Don was born in Geneseo, Illinois, on May 1, 1931, the son
of Lee and Ellen (Erlandson) Palmer, and grew up in the nearby community of Cambridge. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1949 as the last High School class to occupy the school building on College Square.
Don married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Swan, in 1951, and they raised three children together: Jane, Steve, and Mike. Don enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War and served from 1951-1955, where he was stationed for two years in Japan. He attended Western Illinois University, where he received a Master’s degree in Education. Don taught in Dundee and Orion school dis- tricts before settling in as the In- dustrial Arts instructor in Cambridge. After retirement from teaching, he and his wife moved to Florida, where they worked as property managers until retiring in 1985.
He and Phyllis enjoyed many years traveling the country in their camper van, making multiple trips from Florida to Alaska, seeing countless National Parks, and even working at Yellowstone during the summer of 1991. Don loved traveling and was always ready to go somewhere, taking trips to Las Vegas up into his 90s and even taking an Alaskan Cruise this last summer. They also loved spending time with their grandchildren, especially during fishing trips to Battle Lake, Minnesota.
Don is survived by his sons, Steve Palmer of San Diego, CA, and Mike (Sherry) Palmer of Jefferson, IA; grandchildren: Annie (Josh) Knie of Sterling, IL, Alex (Nicole) Palmer of Boone, IA, and Austin Leis (Julia Saltzman) of Los Angeles, CA; sister-in-law, Mary Ann Palmer of Cambridge, IL; nephews, Randy (Diane) Winks and David (Laura) Winks of Virginia, and Tim Palmer of Illinois; Niece, Patti (Mike) Richolson of Illinois; as well as several great-nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Don was proceeded in death by his wife of 71 years, Phyllis Palmer; daughter, Jane Palmer; parents, Lee and Ellen Palmer; brother, Everette “Beans” Palmer; sister, Lorena (Don) Cain; sister-in-law, Marie (Robert) Winks; great-nephew, Michael Winks; brother-in-law, Tom Swan; and in-laws, Marie and Clidd Swan.
A Celebration of Life for Don and Phyllis will be held later this summer at Valley View Club in Cambridge, Illinois.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home, Jefferson, Iowa