Maurice E Palmberg

Maurey was born in Hamilton County Nebraska in 1932, to Edwin & Esther (Swanson) Palmberg. He was the oldest of 4 siblings. He attended North Park University in Chicago before entering the Army. In 1954, Maurice and Barbara (Axelson), his college sweetheart, were married in Iron Mountain, Michigan and moved to Aurora, Nebraska. In January 1956, Kurt J. Palmberg was born, followed shortly thereafter in February of 1957 by Karen A. Palmberg.

When Maurey and Barbara returned to his home town, he began working in the family business, Palmberg Auto Supply, owned by his dad and uncle. He and Barbara eventually bought into the business and saw it expanded into three towns in Nebraska. Later, in 1974, when they moved to Turlock, California, they sold their Nebraska stores and purchased Mid-Valley Auto Supply of Turlock and Palmberg Auto Supply of Hilmar. Maurey’s life was about his faith and his family. He was a camp counselor, a youth leader, and before he retired, he had been a visitation “pastor” at the men’s prison in Tracy. He was a Sunday School teacher for years and especially enjoyed his tenure as II Timothy class teacher at Turlock Covenant. When Maurey retired from business, he worked for over ten years at Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service where he continued his ministry and care for the community. Most recently, Maurey was the unofficial visitation chaplain for Covenant Village of Turlock as he rode his power wheel chair to the hospital, to Brandel and to the Care Center every day, visiting his friends, the staff, and people to whom he could bring a smile, a prayer and sometimes a song. It was important to him that he share his faith and to carry on the Palmberg family heritage of service to God and community begun by his great-grandparents, both paternal and maternal, well over 100 years ago.

Maurey loved politics too. In Nebraska, he served on the State Central Committee of the Republican Party, with a goal of becoming Governor someday. When the move to Turlock came, due to Barbara’s health concerns, he entered city politics in 1982 when he was elected to the Turlock City Council, where he served for 12 1/2 years, the last four as Mayor Pro Tem. Maurey was a solid presence in the city, and was known as a problem solver and a wise and steady leader. He was active in the Exchange Club in Turlock and he was also privileged to receive the Paul Harris Award from the Turlock Rotary. Fiscal responsibility was high on his list of priorities, and thus his legacy to the present City Council of the “Palmberg Rule”, which states that City staff may not put an expenditure of $20,000.00 or more on the Consent Calendar. This was just one reflection of the high moral and ethical standard he placed on himself when he first entered the political arena years ago and which he modeled for others. After Maurey retired from the NAPA Auto Supply business he owned with wife Barbara and his partner Kurt, he and Barbara moved to Covenant Village in Turlock. There he became involved in the resident leadership of the campus and served several years on the national Covenant Retirement Community’s board as resident liaison. As a native Nebraskan, Maurey was fiercely loyal to the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He made annual trips back to Nebraska in his pickup to visit family and friends after he had retired and moved to Covenant Village, but his favorite trip was with his good friend Bob Peterson, when they took the train across country together.

His sense of humor and sharp wit are legendary and wherever he went and whomever he met, he was recognized and enjoyed. “Maurey stories” are priceless, no matter how many times you hear them.

Maurey is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Barbara, son Kurt J. Palmberg and wife Karole, and daughter Karen Palmberg. Grandchildren, Britta (Palmberg) Mitchell and husband Stuart, Jon-Erik Palmberg and wife Theresa, Kristofer J. Palmberg and fiancé Clara. Great-grandchildren, Kaatje Mitchell, Kassidy J. Palmberg, Kaleb J. Palmberg and Ian Palmberg. Brother, Rev. Bud Palmberg, wife Donna, Sister Doris (Palmberg) Schultz & husband Glen, Sister-in-law Mary Palmberg, and nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Ed and Esther Palmberg and youngest brother Bob Palmberg.

Peace be to Maurey’s memory.

A memorial service for Maurey will be on Saturday, October 15th at 1 p.m. at Turlock Covenant Church at 316 S. Laurel St. Turlock, CA.

Memorial contributions may be made to North Park Seminary. Please direct your contributions to the Rev. C. Oscar Palmberg Scholarship Fund in memory of

Maurice Palmberg. Gifts by mail can be sent to North Park University, Office of Development, 3225 West Foster Avenue, Box 6, Chicago, IL 60625-4895 or online at www.northpark.edu/giving. Please be sure to note “Tribute information” with your online gift.

Or: You may send memorial gifts to the Benevolent Fund for Covenant Village of Turlock. c/o Covenant Village Benevolent Fund, 2125 N. Olive Ave. Turlock, CA 95382.

Arrangements under the direction of Whitehurst-Norton-Dias Funeral Service (FD504), Turlock, CA.