Michael Joseph Palmer passed away at his home in Lawrenceville, Georgia on July 4th, 2020 at the age of 69. Mike was born on December 6th, 1950 in Washington, Indiana to Thomas and Ernestine Palmer and graduated from Washington Catholic High School in 1969. Mike earned an AS degree from Vincennes University, a BS in Business from Indiana University, and an MBA from Boston University. He enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and served in the 3rd Infantry Division at the Leighton Barracks in Wurzburg, Germany. After leaving the military, Mike and his wife, Judy, settled in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was a licensed CPA and enjoyed a long and successful career as auditor for several financial companies. He officially retired in December 2019, but still enjoyed doing tax returns as side projects.
Mike was an avid reader and always had a stack of library books beside his bed. Before the Coronavirus pandemic shut down the local library, he’d not purchased a book in several decades. He was very devoted to his family and always generous to those in need. Since retiring, he reveled in his role as “Papa” to his young granddaughter Aubrey and was thrilled to welcome a grandson this fall.
Mike is survived by his wife Judy Palmer; son Eric (Tessa) Palmer of Acworth, Georgia; daughter Rebecca Palmer (Rob Ketner) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina; sisters Ellen (Morris) Lee and Pat (Bill) Joyce, both of Washington, Indiana, and MarySue (Jack) Shulin of Cumming, Georgia; brother Tom (Rita) Palmer of Conyers, Georgia; granddaughter Aubrey Palmer of Acworth, Georgia; and countless other family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents Thomas and Ernestine Palmer of Washington, Indiana.
A private ceremony will take place for close family members at Sugarland Memorial Gardens in Washington, Indiana. Condolences can be sent to the family online at www.edleemortuary.com. All arrangements were entrusted to Ed Lee Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, 300 S. Riverside Plaza Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60606.
