Jerry Duane Palm

Jerry Duane Palm, age 81, passed away peacefully at his home in Washington state on July 12, 2024 surrounded by loved ones.  He was born on August 6, 1942 in Bemidji, MN to Everett and Rozetta (Davidson) Palm.  Jerry was raised in Deerwood.  He graduated from the Crosby-Ironton High School, class of 1961.  Jerry joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1961 and served until 1966. Serving during the Cuban Crisis and first part of Vietnam Era.  He was a member of the Myrin-James American Legion Post #443 in Ironton for 56 years.

Jerry worked for Ted Zontelli and John Spalj on transmission power lines from 1967-1968.  In 1968 Jerry started working for Consolidated Telephone Company as a lineman, then as a service technician, retiring in 1999 after 31 years.  For 24 years he was union steward.  Jerry worked part time for Consolidated Telephone Company until 2003 when he was voted on the Board of Directors of Consolidated Telephone Company. Serving as treasurer for a few years.   He retired from the board in May of 2022 after 19 years of service.  He gave a total of 54 years of service to CTC.

On December 11, 1990 Jerry married Margaret O’Neil.  They were married for 31 years. He then moved to Washington to live with his daughter and her family.   Jerry was an avid hunter and fisherman.  He enjoyed teaching grandchildren how to fish and hunt.  In his last years he enjoyed playing cards and Yahtzee with his family.  He was a member of the Pine Lake Chapel in Aitkin.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Margaret “Peggy” in 2022; his sisters, Gloria Palm Dahlmann and Jean Thomas and his brothers, Dan and Walter McAllister.

Surviving Jerry are his two children, Camie Sprenger of Spanaway, WA and Shayne Palm of Los Angeles, CA; three step-children, Kim (Dave) Cox, Lori (Stu) Anderson and Bob (Ashley) Borden; five grandchildren, Brandon Sprenger, Benjamin (Liz) Sprenger, Breanna (Thoeren) Heideman, Grady (Lauryn) Sprenger, and William Sprenger; several step grandchildren and five great grandchildren; twin brother, Gary (Eileen) Palm of Minneapolis and brother Dan Rufus McAllister of Lake George; his sisters Bernita Harrison of Crosby and Micky Mechelke of Park Rapids; and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the Pine Lake Chapel in Aitkin. Full military rites will be provided by the Myrin- James American Legion Post.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the Chapel.  Burial will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Nokay Lake Township.  Arrangements are with the Koop Funeral Home in Crosby