Rev. Mel M. Palmquist

On April 2, our beloved father, Rev. Mel M. Palmquist finished his race, kept the faith, and passed away peacefully in his home. He was surrounded by loved ones and watching his favorite baseball team, the Mariners, on TV. He was 92 years old. To say Dad was was a fighter is an understatement! He has battled diabetes and heart failure, endured open heart surgery and brain surgery. Dad was stubborn and always found a way to beat the odds and, to his delight, proved his doctors wrong again and again. When death and disease knocked on his door, he always renegotiated the contract.

Mel was born on Feb 10, 1932, at the home of his grandparents in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin. Raised in a Christian home, Mel was the only child of 2 Nazarene pastors: Rev H.S. Palmquist and Rev Daisy Dean Palmquist. He recalled having to choose on Sundays which of his parent’s churches he would attend that day (he admitted that potlucks were often a determining factor!). With his parent’s (and grandparent’s) ministries, Mel moved often in his childhood, including Minneapolis, MN; Hebron, SD; Los Angeles, CA (they lived in the heart of the renowned downtown Union Rescue Mission, where Dad had many memories of singing and serving the men at the mission); Puyallup, WA; Kelsey, WA; and Seattle, WA.

A lifelong fisherman, Dad’s family couldn’t afford to buy him fish hooks, so he made his own from paper clips. And true to form, and a surprise to no one, he began selling them door to door at the age of 5. At 8, he stacked used magazines in his wagon and sold them door to door. And many remember Dad’s “store” he set up in his dorm room, where he would buy items in bulk and sell snacks and supplies to students.

Mel’s mother Daisy died when he was just 16 years old. (Adding to the loss, Daisy’s mother Julia, who was at the home caring for her daughter and only child, also died just 2 hours later. They say of a broken heart.)

After a brief stint in the Navy, Mel attended college at Northwest Nazarene College in Nampa, Idaho. It was there he met his match and life partner— his beautiful and vivacious classmate, June Loveall! They married shortly after his graduation in June of 1955.

Following in his parent’s footsteps, Mel became an ordained minister in the Church of the Nazarene. Fresh out of college, his first pastoral assignment was in View, Washington. This tiny hamlet no longer exists on the map, and Dad likes to take credit for this. In View, he remembered having to cut wood to heat the drafty church building as well as his tiny attached parsonage. For food, some sweet parishioners took pity on the young bachelor and would drop by a meal now and then, but mostly he had to fend for himself and he remembers swerving his car on the road to hit jackrabbits, which he would take home for supper. Mercifully, he soon married June who was a good cook!

Married in June of 1955, Mom and Dad made a powerful team in life and ministry, with Dad preaching, calling, attending to the many needs of the flock, while mom played the piano, lead the singing, taught Sunday school, and was office secretary! With a new wife, the church thought Dad should make a bit more money, so they moved him to pastor the church in Stevenson, WA — complete with a raise from $16 a week to a whopping $34 per week! Their first son, Ron, was born there. Their next pastorate was in Port Angeles, WA, where they welcomed another son, Guy, and their family was complete when a daughter, Lori Jo, came along. Over the years, Mel also pastored churches in Kent, WA; Phoenix, AZ; Oakland, CA; Sacramento, CA, and Vallejo, CA.

After retiring from 25 years of pastoring, Mel put his natural entrepreneurial skills to work creating various business ventures, as well as real estate investing. Dad was a powerhouse, a unique person, had a creative mind, a great passion for life. He worked mightily at whatever he did, provided well for his family, and had a heart for the Lord. Even to the very last days of his life, he continued to pursue new and creative ideas and ventures. He couldn’t understand why anyone would ever want to retire! And, he still had a passion for fishing right to the end! His was a life full of adventure and gusto, of vision and creative ingenuity.

Mel was preceded in death by his beloved wife and devoted partner of 63 years, June, who passed in 2018. His parents, H.S and Daisy Palmquist, also died before him, as did his beloved cousin Maurice Palmquist.

Mel is survived by his 3 beloved children: Ron (Sacramento, CA), Guy (Meridian, ID), and Lori Jo (Boise, ID) and their families; 3 dearly loved grandchildren: Jacob (Meridian, ID), Sarah June (Boyd, TX), and Jesse (Nashville, TN); As well as his precious great-grandchildren: Lane (5), Hudson (4), and Mazy June (1) of Boyd, TX.

What a comfort to know Dad is safe with Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life. We grieve, but as those full of hope for we know we will see him again!

Mel you were one of a kind. You were muchy loved, greatly admired, and will be dearly missed

God rest and keep your soul, Dad. Until we meet again.

A Funeral service to honor Mel’s life will be held on Monday, April 8 at 1pm, at Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 N Cloverdale Rd, Boise.

“Neither death nor life , nor anything else in all creation, can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ, our Lord, for he is the resurrection and the life.” Romans 8:38-39