J. Duane Palmer

J. Duane Palmer
July 26, 1929 to April 25, 2016
Husband, father, doctor and mentor, James Duane Palmer, passed to Heaven, as dawn broke over La Jolla, California on Monday, April 25, 2016. In a peaceful sleep, he was embraced with tenderness as we said farewell, expressing our gratitude for his love, faithfulness, integrity, intelligence and sense of humor. His wife Dawna, stood bravely with her children as she said goodbye to her husband for the last time.
Born in Tuscola, Illinois to Roy Alfred and Anna Belle Palmer on July 26, 1929, he earned his under-graduate degree from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois and further educated in the profession of Osteopathy from the Chicago College of Osteopathy (known today as Midwestern College of Osteopathy). Eight years later he received his Medical Doctor degree from the University of California, Irvine. At Millikin University, he played football during the regular season and every summer he attended Culver Military Academy where he was in the Black Horse troop. He was initiated into the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Illinois Delta Chapter Fraternity on Feb 7, 1948. He was an Optimist International Club President from 1959-1960. Beginning in 1963, he spent considerable time as a member of Lakeside Masonic Lodge No. 760 in El Cajon.
In 1953, he began an externship in Detroit, Michigan where he met a beautiful obstetrics nurse, Dawna. They were married on June 12, 1954. Shortly thereafter they moved to Glendale, California for his internship and a year later started his family and eventual move to East County of San Diego where he had a family practice.
Retirement found Duane and Dawna traveling the world and dividing time between their home in Horizon Hills and Palm Desert. After his December 29, 1994 retirement party roast, he provided locum tenens physician staffing services and later surgical assists to various Sharp Grossmont Hospital doctors until 2004. He loved to keep busy. He was very active in the Noon La Mesa Rotary Club and recently served as Chairman of the Charitable Giving committee. He continued educating himself by attending Grand Rounds at Sharp Grossmont Hospital. He had a passion for woodworking and became a member of the San Diego Seaside Scrollers. He was a San Diego Charger ticket holder for over 50 years and team physician for the El Capitan High School Vaqueros football team.
He is survived by his wife Dawna, his three children, Karen Campbell, Deidre Bird (Steve) and David Palmer (Robin), four grandchildren, Casey and Colton Campbell and Rebecca and Allie Palmer.
He would do anything to help people. He loved having family and friends surrounding him with love and laughter. Come celebrate J. Duane Palmer, MD with his family on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, 2:00pm at Shadow Mountain Community Church 2100 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, California
We love and miss you immensely. God Be with You.
For those who would like to remember, donations can be made to Sharp Grossmont Hospital Foundation in J. Duane Palmer’s memory via their website https://give.sharp.com/grossmont-foundation/tribute or by calling 619.740.4200 or Noon La Mesa Rotary Club via their website www.lamesarotary.org, select the link “Donations to La Mesa Rotary Foundation”. For a Family Interactive Book of Memories to write private condolences visit www.featheringillmortuary.com