Sheryl Sue Palmer, 79, of Humboldt, Kansas, passed away peacefully on the morning of September 25th, 2024 at her home in Chanute, Kansas. She courageously faced a cancer diagnosis at the beginning of the year and since then, remained hopefully and steadfast despite the news. Cancer did not take her capacity to love, shatter her hope, or conquer her spirit. Sheryl was born April 20, 1945 to Menno and Mary Wiens of Inman, Kansas. She had 4 brothers, Dennis, Darrell, Fred and Mark. After graduating from Inman High School in 1963, she went on to obtain a Bachelor of Business Education from Wichita State University in 1965. After graduation she went on to have a lifelong, impactful career in teaching starting in Wichita at Roosevelt Junior High from 1969-1972 before moving to Humboldt, Kansas to begin teaching at Humboldt High School in 1972. She taught at Humboldt High School for over 35 years, known to so many as “Mrs. Palmer”, finally retiring in 2007. She taught a multitude of classes including Typing, Shorthand, Accounting, General Business, and Office Practices to many generations of students. After retirement, she was a substitute teacher for many years and was always the first one to sign up for extra duties such as selling tickets for games, a means to stay in touch with former students and families. She subbed and stayed active all the way until 2023, until she could physically no longer teach. Sheryl met her lifelong partner, James Palmer, in Inman, Kansas the summer of 1966. Jim taught Sheryl’s brothers in high school and had come to meet her through them. He asked her out for his birthday dinner and their marriage lasted 55 years before his passing this summer. Sheryl’s greatest joy in life was becoming a mother through adoption. After many ups and downs, they received news of their approval for Korean adoption and Steven Hee Sung Palmer became their son on May 7th, 1981 and Elizabeth Reum Palmer (Wehlage) became their daughter on January 7th, 1985. She loved her children unconditionally and her dream of becoming a mother, and later an overjoyed grandmother, was realized and continued to be a source of joy and pride for her until her last day. Sheryl had many talents and hobbies, a multifaceted strong woman that did so much for others. She was always the cornerstone of her family, led through her strong faith. She grew up on a farm in Inman Kansas and you could find her helping with her 3 younger brothers, baking, or listening to Elvis Presley or American Bandstand with Dick Clark. She began working on learning the piano before taking up the clarinet, becoming quite proficient at it. Her favorite subject in school was typing and bookkeeping, which led her to her eventual career. She had excellent typing abilities, easily reaching 120 words per minute without errors. She went on to teach this skill to so many others. She took up ice skating at Wichita State University with a natural ability and talent. She enjoyed hobbies such as reading and baking, everyone enjoying a treat made with love by her. She was actively involved with her church and outside clubs and organizations. She was a friend to all and accepted everyone without hesitation.
Sheryl is survived by her two children, Steven Palmer and Elizabeth Wehlage, son in law, Chris Wehlage, and two grandchildren, Vesper Wehlage (age 4) and Lucia Wehlage (age 2) as well as her brothers Darrell Wiens, Fred Wiens and Mark Wiens. Sheryl was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Palmer, brother Dennis Wiens and parents Menno and Mary Wiens.
Services will be held at the Humboldt United Methodist Church on October 3rd, 2024 at 10:30 am. A short graveside service will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Humboldt Elementary Leaders and Parents (HELP) organization. As a lifelong educator, Sheryl would have loved to know her memorial contributed support to an organization that supports educators and staff. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home.
