PALMER, Nicklas J.

Marine Lance Corporal Nicklas J. Palmer was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, on Saturday, Dec. 16. He was 19 years old. He was born in Great Falls, Mont., on Feb. 3, 1987. Palmer’s parents are Brad and Rachele (Hackler) Palmer. Nick, as he was known, moved with his family, to Thornton, where he went to school at Riverdale Elementary and later, Stuckey Elementary. In 1995 the family moved to Leadville, and Palmer graduated from Lake County High School in 2005. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp at San Diego’s Marine Corp Recruit Depot in August of 2005. He graduated from boot camp in November of 2005 and continued his training at Camp LeJeune, N.C., for four more months. He was then assigned to Camp Pendleton, Calif., before departing for Iraq in July of 2006. Palmer loved to play football, lettering four years for the LCHS varsity program. He enjoyed target and skeet shooting with his rifles. When he wasn’t in the weight room at the high school, he could be found hanging out with his many friends, “checking to see who was in town.” He also had fun camping and fishing. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Gordon Palmer, who served in the U.S. Navy, his maternal grandparents Louis Hackler, who served in the U.S. Air Force, and Esther Hackler, and his paternal great-grandmother Lavern McFadden. Palmer is survived by his parents in Leadville; brother Dustin Palmer, Everett, Wash., U.S. Navy; grandmother Doreen Palmer, Great Falls, Mont.; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Montana, Texas and Washington. The Rosary was recited by Lilly Vigil on Tuesday, Dec. 26, at Annunciation Catholic Church in Leadville. Funeral services were to be held on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at the Lake County High School auditorium. Palmer was to have been escorted into the auditorium by Marines Sgt. Mark R. Gamache, Sgt. Damon E. Cecil, Sgt. William J. Ivey, Sgt. Patrick G. Stefan, Cpl. Joshua R. Christensen and Pfc. Jason D. Sermons. Father Jay Jung, C.M., was to have officiated, with words about Palmer from his commanding officer, Lt. Col. Wayne Sinclair, his brother Dustin Palmer and friends Earl Graves and Perry Carllile. The Purple Heart was to be awarded posthumously to the family by Lt. Col Sinclair, and services were to conclude with full military honors by the United States Marine Corp. Palmer will be flown to Great Falls, Mont. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 30, at 10 a.m. Father Jay Peterson will officiate. Palmer will be laid to rest in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Bailey Funeral Home. Those wishing may make memorial contributions to the Nick Palmer Memorial Fund, c/o Peoples Bank, P.O. #975, Leadville, CO 80461, or to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd., Suite #102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057. Herald Democrat