Kenneth D. "Ken" Palmer

NORFOLK – Memorial service for Kenneth D. “Ken” Palmer, 63, of Battle Creek will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, July 13, 2023 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norfolk. The Revs. Lee Weander and Eric Gradberg will officiate. The family will have a private burial at a later date. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 12th at Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk. Ken passed on Thursday, July 6th at University of Nebraska Medicine in Omaha surrounded by his family and friends. Stonacek Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Ken was born September 21, 1959 in Norfolk, Nebraska to Duane Palmer and Beverley (Brooks) Palmer. He attended Sunset School and St Paul’s Lutheran School in Norfolk and then transferred Battle Creek Public school where he graduated in 1978. Ken started at the Norfolk Regional Center for the State of Nebraska in May 1983, as a Maintenance Engineer where he continued his employment until his passing. When Ken started, he worked at the power house for many years and then moved to the maintenance department. Ken and Shelly started Ken’s Trailer Sales & Repair in 1984. Ken enjoyed building trailers from scratch during the evenings and weekends, when he was not at the Norfolk Regional Center. The trailer sales continued to grow as they took on other trailer brands and expanded into truck flat beds and service work. Ken worked very hard to build the business to provide for his family where Shelly and Bud continue to work at today. On September 21, 1979 he married Shelly Wolff at Christ Lutheran in Norfolk, Nebraska. They were blessed with three sons: Kenny “Bud”, Chris, and Chance. They lived in Norfolk before settling on a farm north of Battle Creek. Ken enjoyed raising cattle on the farm, cattle drives, running the skid loader, and spending as much time as he could with his grandchildren. Another favorite past time was watching westerns and playing cards with some of the best friends a person could have. He is survived by his loving wife Shelly, sons Kenny “Bud” Palmer (Tiffany), Chris Palmer (Chelsi), and Chance Palmer (Katelyn), his father Duane Palmer and step-mother Carol Palmer, his 6 grandchildren Tyndall, Mercedie, Wesley, Cooper, Laci and one on the way in August, sister Kristy (Jeff) Braithwait, brother Kevin (Jodie) Palmer, step-sister Tammy (Erick) Brown, Teresa (Craig) Cartsens, half-sisters Tiffany Hunt, Tammy (Joe) Crooker, half-brother Travis (Jen) Suhr, and step-brother Ward (Karen) Putnam. He is proceeded in death by his mother, Beverley Suhr; step-father Gerry Suhr; step-mother Pearl Palmer; step-sister Victoria Sullivan; step-brother Todd Putnam. Honorary pallbearers are Dean Talbott, Mike Amen, Dan Gaunt, Doug Ohlrich, Todd Coover, and Dennis Droescher. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.

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Kenneth D. "Ken" Palmer

September 21, 1959 - July 6, 2023