ALS walkers remember the Rev. Sam Palmer
ELIZABETH OWENS
REGISTER STAFF WRITER


September 23, 2006



More than 65 people walked today in honor of the Rev. Sam Palmer, who died Thursday at Mercy Hospice in Johnston of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The 74-year-old priest, who retired from St. Pius X Catholic Church in Urbandale in 2001, had planned to be at today’s ALS Walk, which started at Principal Park in Des Moines, until he took a turn for the worse this week.

Mary Durand, 54, of Urbandale, a former parishioner and friend, said she saw him Tuesday night and he wrote on his marker board, “I can’t.”

So the group, Salvatore’s Soldiers, walked for him.

In the group were his brother, the Rev. Frank Palmer, and sister, Mary Grochala, both of Des Moines.

“He was very proud of the folks walking in his honor,” Frank Palmer said.

Friends and family said Father Sam offered spiritual guidance and kept his sense of humor to the end.

“He could still give us hell with his marker board,” said Cyndi Schmidt, 51, of Johnston.

The funeral for Sam Palmer will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 3663 66th St. in Urbandale. A family greeting will be from 2:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the church, with a vigil service at 6:30 p.m.