Herbert John Palmer Jr.

Herbert John Palmer Jr., age 83, passed away peacefully with family by his side and his 6-year-old great granddaughter singing softly to him on August 21, 2024, at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Born April 24, 1941, to Herbert John Sr. and Ruth (Nelson) Palmer in Jackson, Michigan where he was raised.

Herbert preferred to be called John. He attended Jackson High School and graduated in 1960. In February of 1962, John married Janet Galicki, whom he met in middle school. Together they moved their family to Dayton, Ohio where John worked three jobs to support his young family. During the early 1970’s, the Palmer family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan where John worked his way up the ladder at Sears to become a division manager. He made many lifelong friendships while he was there. After retiring from Sears, John stepped over to a different ladder in life and opened his own business, Palmer Window and Door, where he kindly provided a partnership in the business to his children and his daughter-in-law. After Palmer Window and Door dissolved, John continued to remodel homes. He built Janet a beautiful home on forty acres in Bellevue, Michigan where they resided until recently moving to Hastings, Michigan. In his early years he served as an acolyte in the Episcopal church, enjoyed family vacations at Higgins Lake and spending time with his cousins. While raising his family he enjoyed camping and teaching his children and their friends how to water ski. Everyone got ice cream if he could get a new skier to stay up on both skis. He had a great love for music and even built his own Heathkit stereo system while listening to his favorite musician, Waylon Jennings. He was an excellent cook and was known for his beef stroganoff. Although he loved candy, he was extremely fond of his wife’s banana cream pie. He spent his twilight years reading, visiting with neighbors and taking a good nap. He was a wonderful mentor and had a huge heart; John would go out of his way to be kind or helpful even at his own expense. His constant laughter brought joy to anyone who heard it. He loved being a Papa to his five granddaughters and a great grandpa to 3 great-granddaughters.

John is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet; children Jeffrey Palmer of Battle Creek, Michigan and Julie Gray of Freeport, Michigan; granddaughters Jennifer Palmer, Erin Gray, Noella van Dillen, and Lily van Dillen; great-granddaughters, Zoey Palmer, Maize Conley, and Ophelia Southerland; and his sister, Mary Walsteadt.

He was preceded in death by his son, Herbert John Palmer, III; his infant granddaughter, Jacqueline Palmer; daughter-in-law, Judi Palmer; and his parents.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with Deacon Trish Harris officiating at St. Thomas Episcopal Church,16 E Van Buren St, Battle Creek, Michigan.

For memorial donations in Herbert’s honor, please consider the Alzheimer's Association.

Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Battle Creek, Michigan.