Diana Mae Palmer & Gail Delanor Palmer
They were together in life and they departed together in death to live eternally in God’s heavenly home.
Diana Mae Palmer died peacefully on Monday morning, October 4, 2021 at home in Broomfield, Colorado with her loving family at her side. That afternoon her husband, Gail Delanor Palmer joined her in death at the Good Samaritan hospital in Lafayette, Colorado, again with family at his side and in the loving arms of his granddaughter Samantha Rhodes.
Diana Mae Palmer was born on February 23, 1943 to Roy and Elsie Penor. Gail Delanor Palmer was born on July 22, 1944 to Emmett and Esther Palmer. Gail and Diana were married on June 10, 1962 at Christ Lutheran Church in Bison, SD. Together they raised two sons and a daughter: Gary Dean, Kevin Lee and Tara Leigh Palmer.
Gail and Diana graduated from Bison High School and then attended Black Hills State College. Diana completed a program in secretarial studies, while Gail graduated with a degree in chemistry.
They moved to Westminster, Colorado when Gail was hired to work for CTE, a coal testing company. Gail was transferred to Kayenta, Arizona to be a chemist at the Kayenta mine operated by Peabody Coal Company. Diana worked as a secretary in the Kayenta school system. In 1971, Gail accepted a director position with CTE and they returned to live in Westminster, Colorado. Gail and Diana enjoyed travel for business and pleasure to several locations, including Hawaii, Canada, Rome, and Korea. While on a business trip to Korea they were involved in a car accident which left Gail paralyzed and wheelchair bound. He was promoted to Vice President, but retired shortly after his accident. After retirement they built their dream home, “Goose Haven” in Lafayette, Colorado and purchased a winter home on the Gulf of Mexico, in San Carlos, Mexico. Their beach front home allowed them time together to enjoy sunset views, stroll the beach together, and with Gail’s adapted dune buggy they loved riding the sand dunes. When travel to Mexico became too difficult for them, they purchased a home in Maricopa, Arizona. They lived there until health issues required their recent return to Broomfield, Colorado to be closer to their children.
Gail and Diana were avid Denver Bronco fans. Their season tickets found them at the local games outfitted in orange and blue during the orange crush years. They enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime in January 1998 when they, along with their children, Kevin and Tara, flew to San Diego to watch John Elway and the Broncos win Super Bowl XXXII against Brett Farve and the highly favored Green Bay Packers. Their celebration afterward could be heard across the nation!
Diana was known for her love of sparkle and bling. She was often referred to as Lady Di because of her fashion sense, her love of jewelry, and never leaving home without looking her best. She was a lifetime Elvis Presley fan, playing his music and collecting memorabilia. A highlight of her life was when she and her sister, Cindi traveled to Memphis, Tennessee to visit the Presley Mansion. She inspired her granddaughter Sami to carry on her enthusiasm of Elvis.
Gail could be found on golf courses wearing his cut off jeans. Gail was known for his storytelling and jokes with that certain grin on his face at the punch line. He was the adventurer that would go off the beaten path to enjoy nature, including deep sea fishing. He was a Clint Eastwood fan, rewatching many times, “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly”, always with a Scotch in his hand.
But more than anything, Gail and Diana loved their family and family traditions. The holidays would find them and their children’s families, and often extended family, gathered for the traditional dinner at their home. This could include the famous dill pickles Gail’s mother Esther made every year. At Easter they had the traditional pinata filled with candy, a tradition from their time in Mexico. All would take their turn, youngest to oldest, being blindfolded, then bat and swing at the pinata until it broke open. Their nephew Brandon Ceglian became a fan, carrying it out with his own family. Diana and Cindi exchanged the same Christmas card for 15 years, a tradition Diana had read about in the newspaper concerning two other sisters and wanted to do so as well.
Gail and Diana were preceded in death by their parents, Gail’s brother Delvin Palmer, brother-in-law James Ceglian, great nieces Sylver and Rhiannon Ceglian and great nephew Harley Zahn.
They are survived by their children, Gary, Kevin, and Tara, granddaughters Kassandra (James) Palmer, Kourtney Palmer, and Samantha Rhodes, grandson Kyle Palmer and great grandchildren, Ryleigh, Drew and Zane Mitchell, Reed, Kaylee, and Ashton Palmer, brother Alton (Donna) Palmer, sister Debra Palmer (Barry Hudson), sister-in-law Pat Palmer, brother Elwood (Shirley) Penor, sister Cindi Penor Ceglian (Dan Axlund), nieces and nephews: Rob (Colleen) Penor, Tanya (Rob) Jernigan, Toni Palmer, Tim (Heather) Palmer, Kimberly (Lyndel) Johnson, Allen Palmer, Rick (Paula) Penor, Cathy (Troy) Zahn, Lori (Brian) Penor, David (Linda) Drieske , Amanda (Don) Norgaard, Sara (Troy) Anderson, Brandon (Anna) Ceglian, and numerous great nieces and nephews.
Gail and Diana will be interred together at 9:00 am on October 20, 2021 at the Louisville Cemetery, with gravesite services under the direction of Kramer funeral home. A Celebration of Life and brunch will immediately follow. Condolences can be sent to: Family of Gail and Diana Palmer, 401 Interlocken Blvd, Apt 3220, Broomfield, CO, 80021.
