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IN LOVING MEMORY OF

Opal M.

Opal M. Palmer Profile Photo

Palmer

February 2, 1915 – November 21, 2016

Obituary

Opal M. Palmer, the daughter of Lloyd Rufus and Maude Emma (Higgins) Putnam, was born on a farm east of Oakland, IA on February 2, 1915. She died November 21, 2016 at the Oakland Manor Nursing Home in Oakland, IA at the age of 101 years, 9 months, and 19 days.


Opal attended school in the Oakland area until the third grade, when her parents moved to a farm near Griswold, IA. She attended the Schofield Country School through the eighth grade and then graduated from Griswold High School in 1932. Opal was united in marriage to Marion B. Palmer on July 18, 1934 at the Broadway Methodist Church parsonage by Rev. A.A. Heath. In February 1940, they were transferred to Bloomington, IL and then in January 1941 they were transferred to Keokuk, IA. They lived in Keokuk until 1974 when they retired Oakland.


Opal worked at J.C. Penney Company for four years during World War II. In 1949 and 1950, she worked as a sewing instructor for the Singer Company. She was then hired as sewing inspector for the Chemical Corporation for eighteen months during the Korean Conflict. In 1955, she started working for Andes Candies. She worked for Andes Candies for eighteen years' full time and then part time for another eighteen years. In 1959, she worked for Super Oil company as a bookkeeper for five years and the Recorders office for nine years, while still working in the candy store. She worked for Beneficial Finance Tax Company as a tax preparer in Keokuk for two years and for the same company in Council Bluffs for one year after moving to Oakland.


Opal was a member of the Christian Church for over fifty years, having served in many capacities. She served as president of the CWF of both churches for several years. She also served as an Elder and Deaconess of the Oakland Christian church for several years. She served as president of the Keokuk Garden Club and after moving to Oakland, she served as president of the Women's Federated Club, Friday Book Club, Botna Valley Genealogy Society, and the Oakland Historical Society. Opal was a member of the Council Bluffs Chapter of DAR, and was a charter member of the Botna Valley Genealogy Society.


Opal was preceded in death by her husband in 1992; her parents; infant granddaughter Susan Palmer in 1959; granddaughter Patricia Zipprich in 1994; in-law Marjorie Putnam in 2003; sister-in-law Edna Putnam in 2007; brothers Robert Putnam in 1989, Rex in 2007, and Kenneth in 2016; sister Fernetta Price in 2009; sister Marilyn Foster.


Opal is survived by her two sons, Charles Palmer Keokuk, IA and Dwayne Palmer of Lake Havasu City, AZ; 5 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; 8 step great grandchildren; and 9 great great grandchildren. She is also survived by many other relatives and friends.


As a person note: Opal loved to sew and was an accomplished seamstress and tailor. She sewed professionally for over 60 years. She also loved to crochet, knit, quilt, needle point, and do fabric painting. She had made afghans for each of her grandchildren. She was an avid reader and in later years, learned to operate the computer to send email to family and friends. She had also accomplished much family history dating back to 610.


Opal especially loved visiting her sons and their families as well as the rest of her family. Her family was always very important to her. She was especially proud of the Military history in the family.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 25, 2016 at 1:00 PM at the Oakland Christian Church in Oakland.  Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the funeral.  Interment will be in the Oaklawn Cemetery at Oakland.  Rieken Vieth Funeral is in charge of arrangements.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Opal M. Palmer, please visit our flower store.

Funeral Services

Visitation

November
25

Oakland Christian Church

603 Pioneer Avenue, Oakland, IA 51560

Starts at 12:00 pm

Funeral Service

November
25

Oakland Christian Church

603 Pioneer Avenue, Oakland, IA 51560

Starts at 1:00 pm

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