Arlene M. Palmer, 80, of Harpers Ferry, IA, formerly of Belle Paine, IA, died Tuesday, February 5, 2008 at Prairie du Chien Memorial Hospital, in Prairie du Chien, WI. Services will be held Saturday, February 9th at 11:00 am at Rossville Presbyterian Church in Rossville with Rev. Richard Heishman officiating. Burial will be held in IOOF Cemetery rural Rossville. Friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon, IA.
Arlene Mae Palmer was born February 24, 1927 in Waterloo, IA, the daughter of Peter and Edna (Touney) Beck. At the age of three she was raised by Kenneth and Mavarette Reside. She attended Waterloo schools through her junior year and graduated from Waukon High School in 1945. Arlene attended Luther College in Decorah, IA and the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. After college she taught in several schools in Northeast Iowa. On June 1, 1949 she married Curtis Palmer at the Methodist church in Waterloo. Arlene and Curtis lived in Greenfield, IA, from 1961 until 1964 before they moved to Belle Plaine, where they lived until 1997, and then moved to Harpers Ferry, Iowa.
Arlene was a member of the Methodist Church in Belle Plaine where she taught Sunday school for many years and was active with its youth groups. She was instrumental in founding the first spouse abuse center in Eastern Iowa. She taught GED courses for several years in Belle Plaine. She was also a very active member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Harpers Ferry. Arlene enjoyed painting pictures of flowers, reading and talking about politics especially the Democratic party. Her favorite times were spent with her family especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Curtis of Harpers Ferry; her 4 daughters, Susan Palmer of Camarillo, CA, Dana Palmer of Evansville, WI, Rebecca (Jon Hammond) Palmer of Cedar Rapids, IA and Crystal (Kevin) Shedenhelm of Denver, IA; 5 grandchildren, Katie and Ellie Hammond, Blaze, Chase and Izaak Shedenhelm. She is preceded in death by her parents, a son, Curtis Palmer and a brother, Marvin Beck.
Casketbearers were Kevin, Blaze, Chase and Izaak Shedenhelm, Jon, Katie and Ellie Hammond.