Donald Lee Palmer

Mr. Donald Lee Palmer, 73, of Eldon, Missouri passed away Tuesday October 20, 2015 at the University Hospital and Clinics in Columbia, Mo. with his loving family by his side.

Don was born May 7, 1942, in Lansing, Michigan, a son of Lester and Fay “Miller” Palmer. He was a 1961 graduate of Lawrence High School in Lawrence, Kansas. He then attended Johnson County Community College and later he was a graduate of the FBI Academy.

He was united in marriage to Judy Lathrom in Lawrence, Kansas on September 1, 1961 who survives at the home.

Don was employed as an ambulance driver at Warren-McElwain Mortuary early in his life. He then began a distinguished career in policing and security in 1963 with the Lawrence Police Department serving for six years as an officer. He then was an officer with the Overland Park Police Dept. for 25 years. He retired and went to work shortly after for the Overland Park Courts as a bailiff. Upon coming to Missouri, Don was employed with Capitol Police as a security guard inside the Missouri Governor’s Mansion where he served until health finally forced his retirement on August 1, 2015.

Don was known as “Bear” by many. He enjoyed travel and going to casinos with Judy as often as they could. He was a family man and will be missed tremendously by his them.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Judy; two daughters, Angela Bartusek (Chris) of Olathe, KS, Tina McDaniel (Brian) of Fontana, KS; grandchildren, Christina Dillon (Lonnie), Nicki Bauman, Justin McDaniel, Tiffany Trimborn, Tyler McDaniel, Jessica Chadwick, Stephanie Fieser-Bartusek, Alan Bartusek; seventeen great-grandchildren; three sisters, Peggy Allen of Eldon, Sandra, Kathy, and Lilly of Michigan; two brothers, Johnny and Georgie of Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lester and Fay Palmer, and Jerry Mahaney, along with one great-grandchild, Chase Bauman.

Celebration of Life services will be conducted 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday November 14, at the Eldon Community Center.