Palmer’s Poems

10/10/2020 at 10:00am on zoom

Photo montage of Palmer’s life

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Zoom memorial service

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The first obituary was composed by Palmer; This one is written by son, Doug

Palmer Roscoe  Haynes lived a life of rural humility mixed with receptiveness to the world.  He began life on a sheep farm outside of Evansville, Wisconsin.  Palmer was born 7 years after  his brother Chauncey.  Palmer’s first school, Tullar, was a one room country schoolhouse.  When the farm failed, the family moved to Liberty St. in Evansville.  His desire to explore took him to Kansas, where he studied architecture and met his lifelong partner Lydia at Kansas State University.  Soon thereafter, the military sent him to Boston, after which he returned to settle in Wisconsin.  There, he took up his scale, T square and triangle to design schools, libraries, hospitals and churches.  In the early 1960s, Palmer became a dad twice over to Catherine and Doug.  It was a role he enjoyed.  Palmer’s openness and curiosity was fueled by hosting AFS students, especially Manuel, who shared Peruvian culture with him.  Later, Doug married JungJa who introduced Korean culture into the Haynes family.  Catherine’s spouse Betty has been a constant supporter of Palmer and Lydia.  Around the time of Palmer’s retirement granddaughter Hyunji became the youngest member of the Haynes clan.  She spent many hours playing and reading in the care of her Grandpa.  Palmer enjoyed the warm embrace of Christian community as an American Baptist.  Palmer’s faith pushed him towards social justice and pulled him into a broader love and acceptance in grappling with a welcoming Christian response to God’s LGBTQ children.  His work for the church was carried out with the patience and endurance of a seasoned runner.  In addition to being a runner, Palmer enjoyed sports in season.  For the season of shovel, he skied and for the season of swat, he biked and canoed throughout the state.  He also shared a passion for racquetball with his colleagues.  Palmer had an affinity for nature which eventually led him to take up residence in a wooded valley of the driftless area.  For those resources he held in trust, his stewardship was at a high level.  He took seriously the forestry of the small woodlots in his trust.  For decades he faithfully tended soil experiments in the Arboretum.  He was a dedicated bird counter for Cornell University and his passion for the Military Ridge Trail was integral to the restoration of the Ridgeway Depot.  As a poet, Palmer sifted words to remove the coarse bits until the fine grained truth of careful observation revealed a unique vision of Wisconsin life.  On June 6th of 2020, Palmer and Lydia celebrated their 60th anniversary.  He drew his last breath surrounded by family at the celebration of his 85th birthday.  

Remembrances are being gathered at www.palmerspoems.com and on the website of Gunderson funeral home.  The family will be holding a virtual memorial service  by zoom on October 10 at 10:00am.  Gifts in Palmer’s memory can be given to Porchlight inc.  or Friends of the Military Ridge Trail.