Willard was born July 24, 1919, in Corwith, Hancock County, Iowa, the son of Paul M. and Mildred L. (Clark) Palmer.
He married Doris L. Webner on September 26, 1942 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
He entered the Army on January 6, 1944, and served during World War II as an Airplane Armored Gunner. He was honorably discharged on October 25, 1945.
Willard and Doris lived at Clear Lake, IA., later they made their home in Holland, IA. Willard was employed by Iowa Corn by Products in Holland for 25 years and retired in June of 1985. During retirement he worked for the Grundy County Landfill for 5 years.
Willard enjoyed his horses. He always planted a large vegetable & flower garden to share with family and friends. He loved spending time with his family, grandchildren and neighbors.
He was a member of the American Legion Post No. 034, past member of the V.F. W. Was on Holland City Council for 16 years; and on Grundy County Landfill Board for 15 years.
Willard is survived by his wife, Doris Palmer, Gladbrook, seven children:
Dot Mathews, Grundy Center, Bev (Homer) White, Fort Worth, Texas, Daniel Palmer (Melva) Guthrie, Oklahoma, Donnie (Marcia) Palmer, Reinbeck, IA, Gloria (Kevin) Kuester, Grundy Center, IA; January Fairbanks, Marshalltown, IA and Linda (Mark) DeLange, Grundy Center, IA
grandchildren and great grandchildren, Jeff and Kelly Mathews, and Aylssa, Kayla, and Sydney;
Kim and Brett Lewis, and Kevin Smith, Vasile White and Delayne White; Jena and Robert Engelkes, Ryan and Mitchell, Kelly and Nathan Engelkes and Daxton, and Danielle Palmer; Jordan and Sammi Palmer, Wes and Sue Beenken, Alli and Reid; Matt and Amy Kuester, Madison, Travis, and Jacque, and Butch Kuester; Bryan Newton and friend Chris, Brandon Newton and friend Megan, and Autumn and Avery; Nicole and Mike Taylor and Ryken; Nathan and Apryl, Mason, Jacob and Anna; and Holly DeLange and Anessa.
One brother Paul Palmer, Jr., Centerton, AR.; four sisters Ruth(Gordon)Nichols, Clear Lake, IA, Pauline Zielie, Mason City, Bernice Hamand, LaGrange, Ky, and January Welton, Downey, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, infant sister, two sisters, Irma Daves, and Evelyn Coyier, one brother James Palmer, and two grandsons, Dustin Palmer and Kory Palmer, two granddaughters, Jennifer Mathews and Amanda Kuester.
Memorials may be directed to the family or Cedar Valley Hospice