Kay Palmer

Kay Palmer, age 80, of Madison, SD, died peacefully on May 14, 2020 at the Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison.

At Kay’s request there will be no funeral service. Her ashes will be laid to rest with her late husband, Glen L. Palmer, at Sunset Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens in Machesney Park, IL. Condolences can be sent to Jodi Sanchez 603 Washington Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 and/or Glenda Palmer 808 Locust St Rockford, IL 61101.  Online condolences can be left on Kay’s Tribute Wall at www.weilandfuneralchapel.com.

Kay Forrest Weber was born on January 20, 1940 in Mitchell, SD to DeForest & Katherine (Eining) Weber. She was raised, though, by her late grandparents, Bernard “Barney” (Mildred) Eining; her dear Aunt, Arlene (Dale) Dorris; late Aunt, Patricia (Velmer) Wire and late Uncles Damon (Ange), Carmen (Irene), Kenneth (Velma), and Bernard (Pauline) Eining. She graduated from Artesian High School in 1958. She was a standout basketball player and starred in many school plays. As a young woman, she was the bookkeeper and sales associate for a little boutique in Huron, SD.

She married Glen Palmer in 1963. After moving to Rockford, IL her husband worked for Rockford Blacktop for 30 years as a construction worker and truck driver. The hard-working couple bought several real estate properties and were landlords to many families in Rockford and Loves Park, IL for over 30 years. 

Kay was a devoted housewife and stay-at-home mom. She never missed a school play, a softball game, or a school function. She served as treasurer of the PTA and always volunteered for every school fundraiser. She loved to dress up for Halloween and go trick or treating with her children. She was the mom that all Jodi’s friends wanted to hang out with; she had the best humor, always equipped with a joke, a laugh, and a smile. She lived in the moment and despite being visually impaired, she let nothing stop her. She was a devout Christian who enjoyed leading bible study classes at Concordia Lutheran Church, in Machesney Park, IL, when her kids were young. As an adult, she was a dedicated member and volunteer at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in Loves Park, IL. 

Kay Palmer is survived by her children, Jodi Sanchez (Charles) and Glenda Palmer; her granddaughter, Jazmyn Palmer and two great-grandchildren, Aubrey Green and Delia Nelson. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband of thirty-three years Glen L. Palmer; her partner of eighteen years, Herb Lintz and her parents, Katherine & DeForrest Weber. 

She spent the last years of her life being taken care of by her loving and generous cousin, Tamara Wire-Oswald, who was more like a younger sister. Her family will be forever grateful for the care she was given by both Tami and the wonderful staff of Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison, SD.