Palmer Otto Myhra

Palmer Otto Myhra, 87, of Iola, died on Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at Iola Living Assistance in Iola. He was born on Dec. 19, 1921, in the town of Amherst, son of Otto and Amanda Myhra. He graduated in 1940 from Rosholt High School in Rosholt. He was with the Civilian Conservation Corps, working at Rib Mountain from 1940-41, and worked at Milwaukee Grid Iron Works in Milwaukee. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1942 -1945. During World War II, he served in England, Soviet Union and Ukraine with the 8th Air Force. His medals included: Army Good Conduct and Efficiency; American Campaign; European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign, entitled to four campaign starts; Asiatic Pacific Campaign; WWII Victory; USSR Operation Frantic 50th Anniversary Commemoration medal 1994, awarded to surviving American veterans of the operation; and 8th Air Force Souvenir Wings, unofficial. When the war ended, Palmer attended University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture in Madison for two years, graduating from the Ag Short Course in 1947, and began farming. He married Lois Zimmermann on May 17, 1947, at Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. After 60 years of marriage, Lois died on Oct. 9, 2007. Palmer and Lois rented a farm near Rosholt until they purchased a dairy farm in the township of Iola in 1951. They raised Registered Guernseys for over 40 years and sold certified seed oats. Palmer has written articles, stories, and poems for many years, several of which have been published in magazines and newspapers. In his last decade of life, he authored three books. His first book, “Zeb’s Water,” a historical novel set in the mid-1850s; his second book, “A Country Boy’s Depression,” is the story of him growing up during the Depression years; and a third book, “A Frantic Saga,” about his wartime experience during a secret mission to the Ukraine. His fourth book, “Century Farms,” will be published soon, highlighting 100-150-year-old farms in central Wisconsin. Palmer and Lois were general leaders of the Trout Creek Beavers 4-H Club for over 20 years. They were members of the Iola-Scandinavia Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9748, Waupaca County Republican Party and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church of Iola. Palmer served on the Iola-Scandinavia School Board for 12 years; 10 as clerk. He was a member of the American Guernsey Cattle Club, Wisconsin Guernsey Association, Waupaca County Farm Bureau, Sons of Norway, and the Wisconsin Trappers Association. His hobbies included history, collecting stamps and coins, reading, trapping, writing, and raising pumpkins. Palmer is survived by five daughters, Kathleen (David) Olson of Red Wing, Minn., Nancy (Stan) Smith of Wausau; Jane Myhra of Iola; Judy (John) Smith of Oshkosh, and Terri Myhra of Appleton; seven grandchildren, Terri Smith (husband Fran Christjohn) of Wausau, Jeff Smith of Madison, Tara Herwig of Appleton, Kristoffer Olson of St. Paul, Minn., Heather Olson of Denver, Col., Amy Smith of Oshkosh, and Kevin Smith of Oshkosh; two great-grandsons, Hunter and Alexander Christjohn of Wausau; three brothers, Clarence Myhra of Menominee Falls, Archie (Delores) Myhra of Wheatland, California, and Kenneth (Kyoko) Myhra of Oakland, California; sister-in-law Margaret Myhra of Stevens Point, one niece, eight nephews; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, infant daughter Kathy, infant son John; one brother Norman, three sisters-in-law, Florence Zimmermann, Audrey Zimmer Strong and Kay Myhra; three brothers-in-law, Emil Zimmer, Paul Strong; and Robert Zimmermann, two nephews, Wayne Zimmer and Dale Myhra. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct 1, 2009 from 4-8 p.m. at the Voie Funeral Home, Iola. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 11 AM at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Iola, with Rev. Dennis Olson officiating. Interment will be in Our Savior's Lutheran Cemetery, Iola. The family wishes to thank Iola Living Assistance, Riverside Medical Center and Dr. Robert Dent of ThedaCare Physicians for their loving care.