STEVEN PALMER May 27, 1947 - January 25, 2023
Published by Fort Wayne Newspapers on Jan. 28, 2023.
Steven Richard Palmer
May 27, 1947 - January 25, 2023
Steven Richard Palmer, first son of William and Jeanette (Lopshire) Palmer, died on Wednesday, January 25, 2023.
A devoted husband of 49
years, he said of his wife, Jo, “On my best day, I couldn’t have picked
anybody better.” He loved being a dad and grandpa, nurtured special
bonds with each of his kids and grandkids, and cherished family time – a
chat across the street, holiday sing-alongs, trips to state parks and
Lake Michigan, making homemade ice cream and pizza, and everyday moments
together.
He was a graduate of St.
Andrew’s Catholic School, Montfort Preparatory Seminary High School
(Long Island, NY), St. Louis University, and Indiana University with
undergraduate and graduate degrees in history.
He was a teacher for 45
years, beginning at St. Joseph and ending at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. He
was especially remembered for inspiring civic engagement and bringing
his guitar or banjo into his classroom. He forever appreciated
connections made with students and colleagues and was honored to receive
the diocesan Light of Learning Award.
He loved music and sharing
it with others – attending folk and bluegrass concerts, hosting
hootenannies, and providing encouragement through daily song videos
during the pandemic. Over decades, he humbly shared his faith and
talents as the music director at both St. Joseph and St. John Bosco. A
self-taught builder and son of a carpenter, his affinity for St. Joseph
culminated in the only song he ever wrote, In the Hands of
the Carpenter.
He is survived by his wife,
Jo Ann (Harber); his son, Michael (Heather); daughters, Darcey Palmer-
(Michael) Shultz, and Christa Palmer (Zach) Lange; daughter-in-law,
Brooke Charleston; grandchildren Aubrey, Eli, Ella, Jude, and Eve; as
well as his siblings, Thomas (Mary Winicker), John, Julie (Mark)
Maddocks, Vince (Kathy), Ron (Karen), and Tim (Kara). He was preceded in
death by his son, Andrew.
A funeral mass will take
place at 11 a.m., Saturday, February 4, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic
Church, 2213 Brooklyn, with visitation at 10 a.m. To honor his wishes,
contributions will support the placement of a memorial tree at a Fort
Wayne park near a memorial tree for his son (via Venmo
@StevePalmerMemorial). Memorial gifts may also be made to Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Central Indiana.
Steve is third from right with "The New World Singers" circa 196?
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| L to R: George Sullivan, Jack Callery, Jack Lyons, George White, Steve Palmer, Larry Cullen, and Dennis Kelly. |
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| Steve at Montfort Reunion 2000 |
