Donald Earl Palmer

Don was born on December 12, 1942, in Manchester, New Hampshire, to Earl Palmer and Alicia Hinse (née Desmarais). He spent his childhood in Manchester alongside his sisters, Claire and Marcelle, and his brother, Robert. He loved being outdoors, pulling pranks, and spending time with his large extended family of cousins, aunts, and uncles. Even as a young man, he possessed the adventurous spirit that would define the rest of his life.

At the age of 17, Don left home to join the United States Air Force. While stationed in Châteauroux, France, he met the love of his life, Lizzie, who was working there as an au pair. Don was immediately captivated by her. His persistence paid off, and what began as a young romance grew into a lifelong partnership.

After completing his military service, Don returned to the United States while Lizzie returned to Denmark. The two maintained a long-distance relationship until Lizzie immigrated to America and joined him in Houston. When Don was slow to commit to a wedding date, Lizzie decided she had waited long enough and moved to New Orleans. She made it clear that she would not be returning to Houston unless they were married. Don got the message. He followed her to New Orleans, and on March 1, 1967, surprised family and friends by becoming a married man. The marriage that began with a little determination and a lot of love lasted more than sixty years.

Don built a distinguished career in the international aviation and logistics industries. Beginning with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, his career took him and his family around the world, including assignments in the United States, Scandinavia, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the Philippines. He worked with the British Airports Authority, Cebu Pacific Air, the Port of Huntsville, Panalpina, and SAS Cargo, and eventually founded Air Cargo Logistics Services.

Throughout his career, Don helped launch airline operations, develop international cargo networks, expand airport infrastructure, and strengthen global trade connections. His contributions earned recognition from organizations and governments around the world, including honors from the City of Chicago, Austria, Norway, and Israel. He was respected throughout the aviation industry for his expertise, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit.

That passion extended far beyond his professional life. Don founded the International Society of Huntsville to help bring together the region's growing international community and foster cultural understanding and friendship. He also served on numerous civic and community organizations throughout North Alabama and participated in humanitarian efforts, including trips to India to support childhood polio vaccination programs and Uganda to support school programs for girls.

Yet those who knew Don best understood that his greatest accomplishments were not found on a résumé. Family was everything to him. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and friend who never met a stranger. He had a remarkable ability to strike up a conversation with anyone and leave them smiling. His warmth, generosity, and sense of humor drew people to him wherever he went.

Don approached life as an adventure. An avid traveler and mountaineer, he explored the world with boundless curiosity and determination. Among his many accomplishments, he summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Mount Ararat, Mount Elbrus, Mount Cotopaxi, and Denali. He believed deeply in experiencing the world firsthand and inspired his children and grandchildren to be curious, courageous, and open to new possibilities. He showed them the world and taught them to believe that almost anything was possible.

His adventures extended beyond business and mountain climbing. While helping launch Cebu Pacific Air in the Philippines, he somehow found time to play in a country-western band and work as a country music radio DJ in Manila. Whether singing karaoke, sharing a cigar with friends, playing a competitive game of cribbage, or telling one of his beloved puns, Don embraced life with enthusiasm and invited everyone around him to do the same.

Don is survived by his beloved wife, Lizzie Palmer; his sister, Marcelle Bryant; his children, Liza Jorgensen (Claus Jorgensen), Desiree Palmer (Marcus Noehren), and Aaron Palmer (Lucinda Miller); his six cherished grandchildren, Helene Jorgensen, Sofia Jorgensen, Lucas Jorgensen, Ashlyn Palmer, Elora Kardes Palmer, and Emilia Noehren; his niece, Jennifer; and his nephews, Thomas, Morten, and Keith.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Palmer and Alicia Hinse; his sister, Claire Palmer; and his brother, Robert Palmer.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the many friends, colleagues, caregivers, and loved ones who enriched Don's life and supported him during his final days.

A memorial service celebrating Don's life will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Madison, Alabama, on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., with a reception immediately following.

Honoring a lifelong wish, Don will be laid to rest in his home state of New Hampshire. A graveside service will be held at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, New Hampshire, on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at 12:00 noon. A reception will follow at 6:00 p.m. at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, New Hampshire. Those planning to attend the reception are kindly asked to RSVP to the family.

Don leaves behind a legacy of love, adventure, laughter, and kindness that will continue to live on in the countless lives he touched. In keeping with his lifelong connection to aviation and his love of a good pun, his family imagines he would want to leave us with one final thought: after a lifetime spent helping planes take off around the world, he has simply departed on one last flight. The gate may have changed, but we know we'll see him again at the final destination.