Edward Palma
April 9th, 1930 - February 8th, 2025
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Edward's Obituary
Edward Palma, age 94, passed away on February 8th at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph. Services will be held on Wednesday, February 12th at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Visitation at 10:00 a.m., service at 11:00 a.m.
Ed was born on April 9th, 1930, in Benton Harbor to Edward and Hazel Palma. As a boy he lived and grew up with his parents in Benton Township and eventually built a home on property owned by his father and within sight of his boyhood home.
He was a proud graduate of Benton Harbor High School, class of 1949 and in 1952 married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Popke. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in June 2024.
He started his career as a volunteer firefighter with the Benton Township Fire Department. He later became full-time and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. Ed was well known and welcomed by the “young guys” whenever he made a visit to the stations.
In his free time away from the fire house and into his retirement, he enjoyed deer hunting, and fishing in the summers on Lake Michigan and nearby inland lakes with his daughters and his brother. Rarely did the deer season pass without Ed putting “meat in the freezer” .
He was preceded in death by parents, Edward and Hazel (Gutherie) Palma, brother Gaetano Palma, sisters Margarite Cicero and Roma Berry.
He is survived by his wife Eleanor, his daughters, Barbara Palma, and Cindy (George) McCroskey, brother Ralph (Christine) Palma and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hanson Hospice Center. Those wishing to share a memory of Edward online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com
Ed was born on April 9th, 1930, in Benton Harbor to Edward and Hazel Palma. As a boy he lived and grew up with his parents in Benton Township and eventually built a home on property owned by his father and within sight of his boyhood home.
He was a proud graduate of Benton Harbor High School, class of 1949 and in 1952 married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Popke. They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary in June 2024.
He started his career as a volunteer firefighter with the Benton Township Fire Department. He later became full-time and achieved the rank of Lieutenant. Ed was well known and welcomed by the “young guys” whenever he made a visit to the stations.
In his free time away from the fire house and into his retirement, he enjoyed deer hunting, and fishing in the summers on Lake Michigan and nearby inland lakes with his daughters and his brother. Rarely did the deer season pass without Ed putting “meat in the freezer” .
He was preceded in death by parents, Edward and Hazel (Gutherie) Palma, brother Gaetano Palma, sisters Margarite Cicero and Roma Berry.
He is survived by his wife Eleanor, his daughters, Barbara Palma, and Cindy (George) McCroskey, brother Ralph (Christine) Palma and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hanson Hospice Center. Those wishing to share a memory of Edward online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com
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