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Lula Mandeville Palmer
Lula Mandeville Palmer
Iowa City
Lula Mandeville Palmer, 77, Iowa City, Iowa passed away surrounded by family at home. Private graveside services have been held at Oakland Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Unitarian Universalist Society, Coralville, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to 100Grannies.org, Hospice of Iowa City, Iowa City Free Lunch Program or the Unitarian Universalist Society of Coralville, IA.
Lula was born on September 29, 1947, in Atlanta, GA, the daughter of John and Annie Myrl (Blackwelder) Mandeville. She graduated from Georgia State University with her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and then completed 2 years post graduate work in Geology. Lula married Kim Palmer on September 9, 1967, in Hillandale, MD. She was a Federal Civil Service Environmental Specialist for the United States Department of Defense for over 20 years retiring in 2001.
Earlier in life, Lula enjoyed many outdoor activities such as jogging, cycling, skiing and riding her horses. She worked overseas for many years with her husband, Kim. Together they traveled all over Europe as well as Japan, Guam, Indonesia and New Zealand. More recently, Lula was active in the community serving as treasurer of the local environmental group, 100Grannies and teaching ESL to recent arrivals to Iowa City. She tutored many who passed the U.S. Citizenship Test. She enjoyed reading, gardening, memoir-writing and birding at the Terry Trueblood Park near her home. One of Lula’s greatest joys was watching her two grandsons grow up and attending their music concerts. When they were young their overnights thrilled her. To be with Karen, Brent, Milo and Oliver made her day.
Lula is survived by her husband of 58 years, Kim; son, Brent Palmer (Karen Fischer) of Iowa City and their two sons, Oliver and Milo Palmer; five siblings, Tommy (Susan) Chesnut of Marietta, GA, Verianne (Leon) Palmer of League City, TX, Mary Chesnut of Hiawassee, GA, Buck (Judy) Mandeville of Yorktown, VA, and Cary (Ellie) Mandeville of Atlanta, GA; sister-in-law, Gwyn Chesnut of Carrolltown, GA; and many extended family members.
Lula was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Tom Roberts; and brother, Charles Chesnut.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.
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