John will be remembered for his goofy sense of humor, contagious laugh, and his love for his family and friends.
John had a true love for life. He was always having a good time, and had an endless number of crazy stories to tell. On any given day you'd find him jamming out and dancing (poorly but passionately) to rock and roll, watching sports, or spending time with his family. John and his Wife Dolly shared many happy days together at their apartment in Roseville, MI and around Metro Detroit where they would go antiquing, ride bikes, go to concerts, and attend church together. John, being OCD by nature, found great joy in doing handyman work and making sure everything looked perfect. In his free time he could always be found around the house, in the yard, or in the garage doing odd jobs and cleaning.
John loved to share with others and his favorite way to do that was through his cooking. He was known for being a grill master and was in his element when he was preparing meals for family and all kinds of big groups. For many years John volunteered for the Lions Club and Knights of Columbus where he helped cook meals for the community. In recent years, John made sure him and his son Ben would meet each week to grill and try out new recipes together.
John lived a life dedicated to caring for the elderly. He started working at a nursing home when he was just 14 years old and worked as a healthcare administrator for 38 years, touching the lives of countless residents, families, and staff. He had a true passion for helping the elderly and always ensured his residents were comfortable and happy.
John never met a stranger and had a special imprint on every person he came into contact with.
He will be lovingly remembered and missed by his wife Dolly Palmer; children Rachel (Chad) VandenBerg, Ben Palmer (Lori), Rebekah Palmer, Cody Pyles (Lauren), and Mark Fryers; grandchildren, Massimo and Mateo Chiok and Hazel VandenBerg; Sisters Patricia (Dave) Uschwald and Mary Michel; Brothers Tom (Kathy) Palmer, Robert Palmer and Andrew (Stacie) Palmer; Aunt and uncle Tina and Pete Schwartz; Mother and father in-law Gerald and Helen Carpenter; his sister-in-law Robin Keene (Tony); his brothers-in-law Lewis Powell (Ronnie), Rick Powell, Scott Carpenter and Mike Carpenter ( Jennifer); lifelong friend Gail (Mack) Gocha and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
John was preceded in death by his mother Claire Schwartz Palmer and brother Michael Palmer.
Friends and family are invited to attend a memorial mass at St. Pio of Pietrelcina Parish June 24, 2022 at 11:00am. Located 18720 13 Mile Rd. Roseville MI 48066
Luncheon to follow Athena Banquet Center 25650 Gratiot Ave Roseville, MI 48066
