Leonard Leon Palmer

Leonard Leon Palmer, 82, of Cape Girardeau, passed away peacefully November 9, 2013, at the Missouri Veteran's Home, after a seven-year struggle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). He was born April 5,1931, to Leonard and Louise (Kelso) Palmer in Stoddard County, MO and raised in Wolf Lake, IL, where his family moved while he was still an infant. He served in the Korean War from 1950-1954 on US Bataan 29 and later in Adak, Alaska. He married Patsy Wilson in Wolf Lake on August 20, 1957. Dr. Palmer, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Southeast Missouri University, retired in 1995, after 33 years of teaching mathmatics. He received his undergraduate degree at SEMO University in 1958, his Masters' Degree from the University of Illinois in 1961, and his Doctorate Degree from Oklahoma State University in 1971. Palmer, a devoted husband and father, enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He attended Grace United Methodist Church and he had many interests including woodworking, gardening, collecting gas engines and antique cars. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Patsy, and together, they visited all fifty states, Mexico and Canada. Their drive to Alaska was one of their most memorable trips. Palmer is survived by his beloved wife and three children, two daughters, Leah (Jim) Zondlo, Laura (Steven) Peel, and a son, Les (Karen) Palmer. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Anne (Darren) Jones, Katie Peel and Jacob Palmer, also his brother-in-law, Alfred (Judy) Wilson, nieces, nephews and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Cletus, and a sister, Oleva Carter. Friends and family are invited to attend a visitation from 11:00am to 2:00pm on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at Ford and Sons Mt Auburn Funeral Home. A private committal service will be held at 3:00pm on Wednesday at the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery in Bloomfield, MO with the Rev. Stan Hargis officiating. Military Rites will be conducted by the Missouri Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Leonard and Patsy Palmer Math Scholarship at SEMO, % University Foundation, #1 University Plaza MS 7300, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 or The ALS Association, 1275 K Street NW, Suite 250 Washington, DC 20005, or the Missouri Veteran's Home, 2400 Veteran's Memorial Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

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Leonard Leon Palmer

November 9, 2013