Obit: Palmer, Mary Matilda (1933 - 2014)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Palmer, Serocki, Piechowski, Hammarsten, Meyer, Kowieski, Kodl, Peterson, Perez

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co, WI) 8/20/2014

Palmer, Mary Matilda (2 February 1933 - 16 August 2014)

Mary M. Palmer, age 81, of Greenwood, WI, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 16, 2014, at her home. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 22, 2014, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church, in Thorp, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a rosary service at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2014, at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church with lunch to follow. Pallbearers are her grandsons: Jason Kowieski, Jon Kowieski, Brett Palmer, Kyle Palmer, Tyler Palmer, Michael Kodl, and Derek Kodl. Presentation of gifts by granddaughters: Angela Kowieski, Janell Palmer, Lisa Peterson, Amy Kodl and Lynnsie Palmer.

Mary Mathilda Serocki was born on February 2, 1933 during a blizzard, to Frank and Caroline (Piechowski) Serocki in Browns Valley, MN. When she was a young girl, they moved to Beardsley, MN to a farm and Mary quickly learned how to milk the cows and tend to the cattle. Mary met Donald L. Palmer nearly 70 years ago when they were in the 6th Grade at Beardsley High and were married on July 5, 1952. Donald and Mary moved to Minneapolis, MN until Donald left for the Army during the Korean War. Mary followed Donald to an Army base in Junction City, KS where she had their first son, Edward, who passed way in infancy. Donald was then called home from overseas, and shortly after his return, they moved back to Beardsley, MN and started farming. While on the farm they welcomed Daniel, Karen, Gregory and Peter. Then in 1960, Donald and Mary headed to Wisconsin, where thy continued farming in Clark County and Jeanette, Donald, Jr., and Frederick joined the family. In 1977, they made their final move to the farm on Colby Factory Road in Greenwood, WI.

Mary and Don enjoyed 62 wonderful years of marriage. When Mary wasn’t milking cows or feeding calves, she enjoyed Sunday drives with Don, spending time with her many grandchildren and hearing about what they’d been up to. In the summertime, her many flowerbeds were always blooming, and in the winter, there was plenty of hot chocolate in the cupboard for visitors. She loved photos of her family, get-togethers and playing cards. There was always a smile on her face and a kind word for whoever she’d meet.

She is survived by her husband, Donald, Sr.; two brothers: Lawrence (Rosalia) Serocki of Browns Valley, MN, James (Marian) Serocki of Thorp; two sisters: Lucille Hammarsten of Browns Valle, MN, Theresa (Lawrence) Meyer of Fargo, ND; four sons: Daniel (Gail Palmer of Thorp, Gregory (Diane) Palmer of Stillwater, MN, Peter Palmer of Thorp; two daughters: Karen (George) Kowieski of Madison, Jeanette (Kenneth) Kodl of Thorp; 11 grandchildren: Angela, Jason, and John Kowieski, Janell, Tyler, and Brett Palmer, Lisa (Chad) Peterson, Kyle Palmer, Michael, Derek, and Amy Kodl, and Lynnsie Palmer: five great-grandchildren: Jocelo, Jasilene, and Jadira Perez, Theodore and Kennedy Peterson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Paul, Stanley, Eugene, and Raymond; one sister, Dorothy; and two sons, Edward and Donald Jr.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.cuddiefh.com.  Thorp Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.