Diane Palmer

Diane Palmer, age 69, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 20, 2025, at her home in Decorah, IA.

A Celebration of Life will be held at noon on Saturday, June 28 at the Palmer family homestead, 3495 US Hwy. 52, Decorah. All are welcome to attend. We will be celebrating Diane’s life, and in her memory. Please wear tie-dye in her memory as she loved to wear it.

Diane was born October 22, 1955, at Decorah Hospital  to parents Keith and Rosella (Smith) Foltz. She attended Young’s Country School (Pleasant #10) and graduated from North Winneshiek High School. Diane was baptized and confirmed at Burr Oak Lutheran Church, rural Decorah and remained a member of its congregation until her death.

On May 17, 1975, Diane wed Harlan Richard Palmer. The young couple bought a one-acre lot with a little yellow house on US Highway 52 near Burr Oak. Harlan and Diane suffered a miscarriage prior to the birth of their eldest, Melissa  in 1983. They were then blessed with David in 1986, and Michelle in 1988. The family eventually built a new foundation on this same property, and moved another, larger home down the highway to its new spot. After years of remodeling, they moved into their “forever” home in 1993.

Diane worked as a resident assistant at Aase Haugen Home, and then Eastern Star in Decorah, where she met her dear friend, Kathy Whalen. Harlan and Diane owned and operated the former Chico’s in Burr Oak for a time, named such because of her father’s nickname “Chico.” She was also employed at Heritage Grove in Harmony, Minn., where she enjoyed working with her daughter, Melissa. Many special friends were made in her time at Heritage Grove.

Diane left her resident assistant work and shifted to housekeeping at Harmony Nursing Home, where she remained until her passing. She loved her work of helping people, and she was a comfort to a great many suffering dark times over the years. She made the best of friends, and had the biggest of hearts.

Diane’s family recalls how much she loved Halloween, especially dressing up in silly outfits for the holiday. She enjoyed gardening, flower shopping and stopping at garage sales. She loved river activities - tubing, canoeing, fishing and camping. She appreciated a good bloody mary with a beer chaser, and she loved her pets. Harlan recalls Diane’s fondness for fixing things with duct tape - even though he could fix anything without it. Diane would buy clothes, trinkets or project materials for “herself” and give them all away to others. She put others first, especially her beloved grandchildren. They were the light of her life.

Diane is survived by: her husband of 50 years, Harlan Palmer;  her children, Melissa Palmer, David (Dennise) Palmer, Michelle Palmer; grandchildren Keneddy, Kaesen Manhart and Kyler Manhart; Coltin Palmer; brother Robert Foltz; sister Della (Kevin) Whalen;cousin George Smith; and numerous brothers and sisters in-law and great nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by: her parents, Keith and Rosella Foltz; sister Darlene Foltz; grandparents Ernest and Elizabeth Foltz and Charles and Gladys Smith; mother and father in-law Claire and Viola Palmer; and her dear friend, Connie Wilson.