Donald E. Palmateer

Funeral services for Donald E. Palmateer, 86, Lawrence, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home with the Rev. Bill Woodard officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.Mr. Palmateer died Monday, Feb. 12, 2007, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.He was born Oct. 12, 1920, in Lawrence, the son of Walter and Mabel Petty Palmateer. He attended Liberty Memorial High School and in 1939 was the first person to letter in all sports. He attended Kansas University, where he majored in physical education with the goal of becoming a coach. He was a lifelong resident of Douglas County.Mr. Palmateer served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1943 until he was honorably discharged in 1946. He and his father owned a small grocery store in eastern Lawrence. He joined his grandfather, George Petty, to begin his career in farming, which expanded to include chickens, hogs, sheep and cattle, as well as grain crops. He and his grandsons started a lawn care business known as Palmateer Enterprises, and he grew Palmateer Produce from a gardening project into a small business. He was the Grant Township trustee for 34 years, a Douglas County Conservation Board member for 42 years, a Farm Bureau president, and building chairman for the new West Side Presbyterian Church. He received the Outstanding Supervisor Award from the state of Kansas, and was the first recipient of the Kansas Association Conservation District Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Palmateer also was a member of West Side Presbyterian Church and a church session member, and a member of the Knife and Fork Club. He served as a basketball coach to various youth groups. He and his family were active in the Jayhawk 4-H Club and were recognized as 4-H family of the year. He enjoyed Kansas University sports, especially basketball.He married Doris H. Trent on March 30, 1941, in Lawrence. They shared 65 years of marriage. She survives.Other survivors include a son, Robert and wife Karen, Moore, Okla.; a daughter, Patricia Horton and husband Galen, Overland Park; a daughter-in-law, Jean Palmateer, Lawrence; five grandchildren, Robert and Matt Palmateer, Jacque Carden, Beth Clover and Alyssa Palmateer; and five great-grandchildren, Sean, Nick, Sarah, Madison and Abby.The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home.Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Cancer Society, sent in care of the funeral home.Online condolences may be sent at www.rumsey-yost.com.