Alice Whitaker Palmer, age 98, of Osceola Wisconsin, passed away on July 4, 2025.
Alice was born to John and Bertha Whitaker, 1927, in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin. She graduated from St. Croix Falls High School in 1945 and worked in the WWII food industry “tying” hams for troops overseas. After the war, she then attended Polk County Teachers College and received her degree and teaching credentials. On June 8, 1948, Alice married H. Jerome Palmer of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, and was blessed with three children, Sandra, Cynthia and Steven.
Early on, Alice enjoyed swimming in the St. Croix River next to their family farm, drawing charcoal sketches and playing softball and actual baseball with the schoolboys! She taught public school at Cedar Lake, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Alice lived in both California and Wisconsin and at age 60 she became a licensed Wisconsin real estate sales agent, working with her husband in the industry and as a medical clerk in the x-ray department of the St. Croix Regional Medical Center. Always the typical homemaker, Alice excelled in cooking, gardening, sewing and holiday family gatherings.
Alice is survived by her children, Sandy (David “Zeke”) Bauer, Cindy (Glyn) Thorman and Steve (Geri) Palmer; grandchildren, Christopher (Jen), Nathan (Anna), Adina (Tom), Catrin (Kalvin), Seren (Francisco), Mary (Greg), Eric (Jacqui) and Sara (Jason); great-grandchildren, Tom, David, Samuel (Cindy), Griffin (Cindy), Johnathan, Daniel, MiKayla, Brooklyn (Sandy), Hannah, Esther, Grace, Joshua, Ruth (Sandy); Hugo, Rowena (Steve), Teagan, Caden (Steve) and Clint (Steve); and a great-great grandchild, Benjamin (Daniel and Sydney).
Surviving sisters-in-law include Libby Palmer and Roberta Whitaker. She is also survived by niece, Doris Carrie Pierce; along with many other nieces and nephews.
Alice is preceded in death by husband, Jerome; grandchild, Bryn Alyce Thorman; all of her siblings; and all of her brothers- and sisters-in-law, save for Libby and Roberta. (A long and wonderful life span Alice had!)
The visitation will be held at Grace Lutheran Church-Nye, 2098 70th Ave., Osceola, on Friday July 18, from 5-7 p.m., and also at Grace Lutheran at 10-11 a.m., Saturday, July 19. The Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. following the second visitation. In honor of Alice, donations can be made to Our Daily Bread Ministries – PO Box 266, Grand Rapids, MI 49501, or Meditations Daily Devotional c/o Grace Lutheran Church, 2098 70th Ave., Osceola, WI 54020.
In closure, it should be noted that Alice was a solid, devout Bible-based Christian woman and spent her entire life both worshiping her Savior and promoting his command to bring others to faith. There are many stories of Alice bringing lost souls to the cross and not enough space here to reflect on them. Alice Palmer was a true modern-day apostle and we among family and friends know she will be recognized and rewarded for her duties in heaven. Join and share our gratitude at her final farewell service. We will then all be able to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!”
