Hubert Palmer

Hubert Palmer, 90, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, at the Missouri Veterans Home.

Hubert had eight siblings. He was born Nov. 24, 1926, in Joplin, Missouri, to Charles W. and Etta M. Martin Palmer. He and Donna Kenney were married Jan. 7, 1953, in Joplin.

Hubert attended Wentworth High School in Wentworth, Missouri.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army on April 14, 1945, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served with the 808th Engineer Aviation Battalion in Japan and was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Ribbon. He was responsible for overseeing the painting of signs and was hand-picked by the company commander to create the company's shoulder emblem. He served as a sergeant and was honorably discharged Nov. 25, 1946, in Tokyo.

In 1959, Hubert became employed at Hallmark Greeting Cards in Kansas City, Missouri, working as a master engraver. In 1966, he moved to Cape Girardeau, where he worked for the former Cape Girardeau Art Co., which was affiliated with American Greeting Cards. He was asked and was honored to be the engraver of Christmas cards during the years of the Carter--Mondale administration, and the cards are displayed in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. In 1986, he went to work for the Southeast Missourian newspaper, retiring in 1997.

Hubert was a lifetime member and an elder of the Community of Christ in Sikeston, Missouri, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Loving survivors include his wife of 64 years, Donna Palmer of Jackson; five children, Steven (Susan) Palmer of Kansas City, Donald (Diana) Palmer of Cape Girardeau and Clifford (Jeri) Palmer, Russell (Charlynda) Palmer and Kathryn (Timothy) Sievers, all of Jackson; a brother, Richard "Dick" Palmer of Pierce City, Missouri; 20 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by five brothers, two sisters and his parents.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with his nephew, Raymond Dykens, officiating. Patriot Guard riders will escort the funeral procession to Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, where full military honors will be observed.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Alzheimer's Association or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.