February 8, 1920 - July 10, 2018
The passing of John Harold Palmer, husband of the late Elinor (Sivertz) Palmer, of Fredericton, NB, occurred on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Windsor Court, Fredericton, NB. He was the son of the late Harald and Susan (Sime) Palmer. John was born in Duncan, BC on February 8, 1920. He attended Duncan Grammar School until 1935 and graduated from Cowichan High School in 1938. He attended the 1938-39 sessions at Victoria College in Craigdarroch Castle, and UBC from January 1946 to August 1948 graduating as B.A, B. Com.
As a youth, John served in two units of the Reserve Army; first in the Canadian Scottish Regiment from March 1937 to September 1938, and then the 62nd Field Battery from May 1939 until the unit was mobilized at the outbreak of war. He rose to Battery Sergeant Major in Light Anti Aircraft on coastal defence in Britain. He was commissioned at Gordon Head in January 1943, after which he instructed in gunnery in Halifax, before returning overseas. After five years in the Artillery, he was transferred to the Infantry and posted to the Calgary Highlanders in Holland and Germany. He rose to Captain and returned home with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada for discharge in November, 1945. He was awarded the Canadian Efficiency Medal for his service.
He joined the Provincial Public Service in 1948 to do appraisal work in Duncan, Nanaimo and Cumberland, where he served as Deputy Provincial Assessor for the Comox District. In 1952 he moved to Victoria doing personnel work with the Forest Service (two years), the Lands and Water Service (13 years), and the Liquor Control Board (eight years). He ended his career doing negotiations for labour contract and arbitration cases in 1984. Two years later he took a part time position on the Board of Referees, an appeal board for unemployment insurance matters from which he retired, after 15 years at the of 81. He was a Past President of the Public Service Branch No. 127 of the Royal Canadian Legion, having been a member for 53 years.
John will be remembered for his generous nature; warmth, compassion and welcoming smile; sharp wit and unfailing memory; great devotion to his wife Elinor; and as a highly entertaining story teller. His impersonations of comedian WC Fields were hilarious.
He is survived by his sons, David Palmer (Doris Demers) of Fredericton, NB and Ian Palmer (Vicky Catchpole) of Cumberland, BC; grandchildren, Nieva Palmer, Sebastian Palmer, Olin Palmer, Coel Palmer, Kelsey Simpson, Cheyna Lemon; great grandchildren, Marley, Brycen, Ainsley and Talon; nieces and nephews. Besides his wife and parents, he was predeceased by his sister, Margaret Isabel Smillie.
A Celebration of John's life will be held from York Funeral Home, 302 Brookside Drive, Fredericton, NB on Friday, July 13, 2018 at 2 pm. Interment will take place in St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery, Duncan, BC at a later date. For those who wish, remembrances may be made to the Nature Trust of New Brunswick or the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Personal condolences may be offered through www.yorkfh.com
York Funeral Home, Fredericton, NB