Post Messenger Recorder -

LESTER PALMER

July 4, 1926 – November 19, 2015

"You can say what you want, but..." This signaled that Lester Palmer was about to offer up one of his many keen observations. If, on the other hand, he started with, "What are you doing right now?" you had better schedule out the afternoon for an adventure whose outcome only he knew. Either way, after a few minutes of conversation he would say, "Other than that I don't know much."

Fact is, he knew a lot. Though he would deny it, Les was a man brimming with wisdom and, fortunately for his family and friends, he was not in the least bit shy about sharing opinions that were pretty much all quotable. He was even better at listening. Principled, generous, and painstakingly fair in all his dealings, he was amazingly accepting of people for whom they were inside. Little wonder Lester himself was a Town of Montrose landmark as much as was the family's solid limestone block farmhouse just south of Paoli, WI.

Born at home on July 4, 1926, Les was merely two and the tag end of a seemingly endless stream of children when Julia (Gafke) and Wayne Palmer moved the family from the farm on Whalen Road into the house on County Trunk PB. It would have been hard to imagine that the little kid slogging off to Paoli Grade School after morning chores would one day own the very house he grew up in and raise his family there, but he took a step in that direction when he pulled out of Belleville High School to do the farm work his older brother left behind by enlisting. Les eventually had his own opportunity to see the world. His Navy stint aboard the USS Philippine Sea as they delivered Admiral Bird to the Antarctic remained a favorite memory and a superb excuse to attend reunions in later years.

The future of the dairy farm ultimately relied on Les's strong back, but it took Barbara Ann Sarbacker, whom he married on November 9, 1950, to change it from a house to a home and together to rechristen the farm as Breezy Meadow. Les and Barb set out to raise cows, but after celebrating 65 years of marriage it is clear that their success at growing remarkable children outstripped even their ability to collect ribbons for Brown Swiss at the Dane County Fair. With the example of their parents in front of them daily, a solid work ethic and fervent devotion to each other became the norm.

Eventually worn from incessant labor, Les was forced to sell the cows in 1985. If anything, this allowed him to become even busier as he diverted his energies from the field to community work as a member of the Dane County Farmer Service Board, the Belleville School Board, the Belleville Senior Citizen Board, the Belleville Community Club, Duppler-Smith Post 460 of the American Legion, and the Antique Car Club. Until the age of 80 he drove a bus for Belleville schools.

Not that he didn't know how to relax. There was always time to watch the Packers or the Badgers. Or he would get out his perfectly polished 1930 Model A or 1966 Ford Galaxy convertible to pick you up for a ride, though true to form you would not know your destination until you arrived. Above all else, he would choose to talk to you and made time in every day to visit or call someone in his extensive social network which he developed over the years long before Facebook came into being. Les devoted himself to his vast circle of friends as well as his family, and they loved him back for it.

You can say what you want, but Les Palmer was a great man. If you didn't know him, you should have. After 89 years, on November 19, 2015, he died at home exactly where he so much enjoyed greeting you.

Lester Palmer is survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara (Sarbacker); his children, Mike (Barb) Palmer, Karen (Duncan) McLean, Mary Kay Palmer (Lee Haag), Daniel Palmer (Eileen Rosenberg), Jeffrey (Heidi) Palmer, Patrick (Temple) Palmer; and his grandchildren, Ryan, Anthony, Madeline, Anna, David, Amanda, Mark, Jill, Grace, Eve, Charles, Dylan, and Dalton; and great-grandchildren, Logan, Carter, and Johanna.

Lester was preceded in death by his two sons, Anthony and Richard; and daughter, Bonnie; his great-grandson, Everett; his parents; and his brothers and sisters, Earl, William, Julius, Stanley, Floyd, Elmer, Esther, Florence, and Dorothy.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 301 N. Main St., Verona, WI, with the Rev. William Vernon officiating. A private family inurnment service with full military honors will follow in the St. William's Cemetery, Paoli.

Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Friday, November 27, 2015, at the St. Andrew's Catholic Church, 301 N. Main St., Verona.

A memorial fund has been established.

Thank you to the caregivers from Agrace Hospice Care, Ashley, Lisa, Kim and Heather; to Father Vernon and Catherine Schneider from Saint Christopher Catholic Parish for their visits; and to Andy and Brad for their services.

An online memorial with guestbook is available at http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com.