James Alvin Palmer's Obituary
James A. Palmer, 84, of Humboldt, Kansas, passed away peacefully on July 17th, 2024 at Heritage Health Care in Chanute, Kansas.
Jim was born July 7th, 1940 to Chet and Opal Palmer in Lindsborg, Kansas. He had an older sister, Maureen, and younger sister, Judy. After graduating from Lindsborg High School in 1958, he went on to obtain a Bachelor of Music from Bethany College and then a Masters of Music Education from Wichita State University.
After graduation he went on to teach music at several schools including Pawnee Rock, Inman, Towanda and Conway Springs, finally ending up in Humboldt, Kansas. After he left teaching, he worked in several fields including radio, advertising and insurance.
Jim met his lifelong partner, Sheryl Wiens, in Inman, Kansas the summer of 1966. During Sheryl’s junior summer, she came home from Wichita State and James asked her out to celebrate his birthday. Jim met Sheryl from teaching her high school brothers. He took her to McPherson Kansas for Chinese food, a first for her.
Jim and Sheryl were able to grow their family through the adoption of their two children, Steven Palmer and Elizabeth Palmer Wehlage. While it was not a straightforward path due to their age at the time, Jim and Sheryl were approved for international adoption and the rest is a beautiful history.
Jim enjoyed fishing and golfing. He loved fishing so much that he had his own outdoor radio show called “Outdoors with Jim” on KKOY radio. He was known locally as “Gentleman Jim” and was a social individual, never meeting a stranger and could easily converse with anyone at any time, showing genuine interest in others. He enjoyed telling jokes and one liners, usually telling the same joke over and over much to his family’s loving exasperation. Other talents include being a proficient oboist, soloist, and conductor for various groups throughout his life. He sang in groups such as local quartets and St. Cecilia. Most of all, he was fulfilled by being active in the community and enjoyed volunteering and organizing events for youth such as youth fishing derbies. He took his love of the outdoors and paid it forward to others. Later in life he spent substitute teaching where many others came to know and love him. You could find him at H&H eating breakfast with his friends, proudly conversing about his family, especially after becoming a grandpa at the age of 80.
Jim is survived by his wife, Sheryl Palmer, two children, Steven Palmer and Elizabeth Wehlage, and two grandchildren, Vesper Wehlage (age 4) and Lucia Wehlage (age 2) as well as his sister, Judy Fields and son in law, Chris Wehlage. He was preceded in death by dad, Chet, mom, Opal, and his sister, Maureen Carlson.
Services will be held at the Humboldt United Methodist Church on July 31st, 2024 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humboldt Lion’s Club, memo: fishing derby. Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home of Chanute, Kansas.
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