Full Obituary

MARY M. PALMER, age 81, of Greenwood, WI passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 16, 2014 at her home. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 22, 2014 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, in Thorp, from 4pm to 8pm, with a rosary service at 7:30pm. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, August 23, 2014 at St. Bernard-St. Hedwig's Catholic Church, with lunch to follow. Pallbearers are her grandsons: Jason Kowieski, Jon Kowieski, Brett Palmer, Kyle Palmer, Tyler Palmer, Michael Kodl, and Derek Kodl. Presentation of gifts by granddaughters: Angela Kowieski, Janell Palmer, Lisa Peterson, Amy Kodl and Lynssie Palmer.
Mary Matilda Serocki was born of February 2, 1933 during a blizzard, to Frank and Caroline (Piechowski) Serocki in Browns Valley, MN. When she was a young girl they moved to Beardsley, MN to a farm and Mary quickly learned how to milk the cows and tend the cattle. Mary met Donald L. Palmer nearly 70 years ago when they were in the 6th grade at Beardsley Elementary School. They were high school sweethearts at Beardsley High and were married on July 5, 1952. Donald and Mary moved to Minneapolis, MN until Donald left for the Army during the Korean War. Mary followed Donald to an Army base in Junction City, KS where she had their first son, Edward, who passed away in infancy. Donald was then called home from overseas, and shortly after his return, they moved back to Beardsley, MN and started farming. While on the farm they welcomed Daniel, Karen, Gregory and Peter. Then in 1960, Donald and Mary headed to Wisconsin, where they continued farming in Clark County and Jeanette, Donald Jr. and Frederick joined the family. In 1977, they made their final move to the farm on Colby Factory Road in Greenwood, WI.
Mary and Don enjoyed 62 wonderful years of marriage. When Mary wasn't milking cows or feeding calves she enjoyed Sunday drives with Don, spending time with her many grandchildren and hearing about what they'd been up to. In the summertime, her many flowerbeds were always blooming, and in the winter, there was plenty of hot chocolate in the cupboard for visitors. She loved photos of her family, get-togethers and playing cards. There was always a smile on her face and a kind word for whoever she'd meet.
She is survived by her husband, Donald Sr. of Greenwood; 2 brothers: Lawrence (Rosalia) Serocki of Browns Valley, MN, James (Marian) Serocki of Thorp; 2 sisters: Lucille Hammarsten of Browns Valley,MN, Theresa (Lawrence) Meyer of Fargo, ND; 4 sons: Daniel (Gail) Palmer of Thorp, Gregory (Diane) Palmer of Stillwater, MN, Peter Palmer of Greenwood, Frederick (Heather) Palmer of Thorp; 2 daughters: Karen (George) Kowieski of Madison, Jeanette (Kenneth) Kodl of Thorp; 11 grandchildren: Angela, Jason, and Jon Kowieski, Janell and Brett Palmer, Lisa (Chad) Peterson, Kyle Palmer, Michael, Derek, and Amy Kodl, and Lynnsie Palmer; 5 great grandchildren: Jocelo, Jasilene, and Jadira Perez, Theodore and Kennedy Peterson; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents; 4 brothers: Paul, Stanley, Eugene, and Raymond; one sister, Dorothy; and 2 sons: Edward and Donald Jr.