Palmer Brant

Palmer Leonard Brant, 88, of Wanamingo, died peacefully on Monday, July 3, 2017, at Kenyon Sunset Home.

He was born on Sept. 29, 1928, in Norwegian Valley near Nelson, Wis., the son of Laurits and Inger (Johnson) Brant. After the death of his mother when he was 6 weeks old, he was raised by his grandparents, Eli and Louis Johnson. He attended country school through eighth grade. Palmer was baptized and confirmed at Lyster Lutheran Church of rural Nelson, Wis. He and his sister, Ethel, worked hard doing a lot of the farming as his grandparents were elderly and suffered from arthritis. After his sister married and took over the farm, he did various jobs of trucking and logging.

In 1950, he married Phyllis Munson of which two daughters, Patricia and Shirley, were born. He was drafted into the Army in 1950 and fought in the Korean War. After returning, he lived in Viroqua, Wis., where he farmed for a while raising tobacco. He also worked as a carpenter, specializing in shingling. After a brief illness, Phyllis died of cancer in 1956.

In 1958, Palmer married Karen Floan of which two daughters, Kimberly and Michelle, were born. They stayed in Viroqua until 1961 when they moved to rural Wanamingo to take over the Floan family farm. In 1970, they moved to Wanamingo where Karen still resides.

Palmer worked at Maple Island and shingled on the side, a trade he loved and taught to many young men. He moved to the Kenyon Sunset Home July of last year. He had various health problems, but always seemed to pull through. Just last Sunday, in his mind, he was going shingling.

He is survived by his wife, Karen Brant of Wanamingo; daughters, Patricia (Bruce) Prigge, Shirley Peterson, Kimberly (Gene) Wishum, and Michelle (Donald) Loken; grandchildren, Tyler Peterson, Adam (Kalinda) Peterson, Barrett (Sarah) Wahlberg, Dr. Brady ( Emily) Wahlberg, Trevor (Tara) Prigge, Alicia (Wade) Yunker, Dillon (Lindsay Fulton) Loken, Kysa (Ricky) Rueger, Gene (Jamie) Wishum, Jacob Wishum; great-grandchildren, Emma Peterson, Mitchell Peterson, Indira Peterson, Madison Wahlberg, Vincent Prigge, Thomas Prigge, Braxton Prigge, Sophia Prigge, Siri Loken, Remi Loken, Piper Rueger, Jaxson Rueger, Lily Yunker, Alyssa Wishum, Jonathon Wishum, Ashlee Wishum, Liam Wishum, and Luke Wishum; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Phyllis; sister, Ethel Thompson; and son-in-law, Greg Peterson.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 8, at Holden Lutheran Church. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holden Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Heather Culuris officiating. Interment will be in the Holden Lutheran Cemetery with military honors.

Memorials are preferred to Holden Lutheran Church for the sound system or to the donor's choice.