Florence “Flossie” Palmer, 92, went to heaven on Sept. 1, 2017 at 9:30 p.m. Her husband of 71 years and her daughter held her hands as she took her last breath in this world and her first in the next.
Flossie was born Nov. 7, 1924 in St. Paul, Minn., and was known to many as “The Cake Lady of Grand Marais.” But she in fact held many titles: Avid bird watcher, forward canoe paddling expert, master agate hunter, wilderness hike guide, golden books reading enthusiast, Easter egg dying expert, Christmas bow designer, prolific card and letter writer, and genius level birthday rememberer.
Her lemon bars, cream puffs and angel food cakes may be the stuff of legend, but she could also out-walk you on a trail, out-laugh you watching Carol Burnett and the roadrunner, out-fish you with a cane pole, or out-fox you in a game of crazy eights and go to the dump. Hospitality was her second language and home-making her passion.
She was faithfully devoted to her one true love, best friend, camping buddy, canoe partner and world-traveling sweetheart for over 70 years. She held the title of wife, mother, grandmother, great- grandmother, as well as friend, confidant, pen-pal, and teacher. The number of letters, cards and postcards she sent out over the years single-handedly kept the U.S. Postal Service in business and we fully expect the price of stamps to go up to compensate for their revenue loss.
She was tireless in her encouragement, passionate about her family and her church family, and unflinching in her love for her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was the very textbook definition of living life to the fullest and is no doubt asking if she can swap out the gold sidewalk in front of her mansion for agates. She was one-of-a-kind and will be oft remembered and greatly missed.
She is survived by her husband Alden D. (Dave) Palmer Jr.; son Alden D. (David) Palmer III (Kathy); daughter Penny Schuppel (Palmer); grandsons Jayson Palmer (Nicole) and Christopher Mammenga (Sara); six great-grandchildren, Paige Palmer, and Boaz, Josie, Ruben, Gabriel and Truman Mammenga; brother Roy Derry; sisters Margaret, Patsy, Joy and Carol; and a myriad of relatives and close friends.
Flossie will be remembered fondly and we look forward to exploring heaven’s sky-blue-pink firmament, more hidden trails, watching birds, animals, flowers, trees and rocks with her again in eternity. She ended her life like she ended her cards: “God bless you all….. real good!”
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais. Private burial in St. John’s Cemetery will be held at a later date.
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