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StaffLife Story Funeral Director
spalmateer@lifestorynet.com
Thomas Jefferson must have had Steve in mind when he said, "The harder you work, the more luck you seem to have." Whether it is about school, work, or family this is certainly true of Steve Palmateer. Steve learned this at an early age when he was growing up in Saginaw; from his parents and his grandparents-from farming, building, and teaching school. And, as Steve says, "If all the work wasn't done and the house wasn't clean, there were issues." Steve learned to drive (on the farm) well before his 16th birthday. And he learned to load delivery trucks with blocks and bricks before going to school in the morning. He played soccer, was on the golf team, the ski team, and served on the Student Council. Plus he took piano lessons.
While he was at Hope College he worked as a janitor and helped out at a nursing home, too. Steve was in the pre-dent program at Hope when he met his future wife, Karen, also a student at Hope. Karen introduced Steve to the Kleinheksels during morning coffee at the restaurant where she was working. Carrow Kleinheksel saw something special in Steve-undoubtedly his work ethic-and soon Steve was washing cars and helping out at the funeral home.
Steve and Karen were married two weeks after Steve's graduation from Hope and the next month he left for mortuary school at Wayne State University. Karen stayed in Holland and taught school; Steve came home every weekend and worked at the funeral home.
Steve and Karen have three children, Matthew, Joel, and Abbie. Matthew takes piano lessons like his dad did; Joel is the athlete and the typical middle child, always smiling; and Abbie is the princess with two older brothers. Steve and his family are members of Third Reformed Church where Steve serves as kitchen coordinator and, with help from the men's prayer group, does the cooking on Wednesday evenings for family night.
Steve says life in Holland is wonderful. He admires how people support each other and make good things happen. He likes being involved in the community and is president of the West Ottawa Education Foundation.
Steve's wife, Karen, his children, Matthew, Joel, and Abbie, along with Dykstra Funeral Home, Third Reformed Church, and the Holland Community all know Steve will do anything for them; that he'll do it anytime, and do it well. As Cervantes said: "Good actions ennoble us, we are the sons of our own deeds."
While he was at Hope College he worked as a janitor and helped out at a nursing home, too. Steve was in the pre-dent program at Hope when he met his future wife, Karen, also a student at Hope. Karen introduced Steve to the Kleinheksels during morning coffee at the restaurant where she was working. Carrow Kleinheksel saw something special in Steve-undoubtedly his work ethic-and soon Steve was washing cars and helping out at the funeral home.
Steve and Karen were married two weeks after Steve's graduation from Hope and the next month he left for mortuary school at Wayne State University. Karen stayed in Holland and taught school; Steve came home every weekend and worked at the funeral home.
Steve and Karen have three children, Matthew, Joel, and Abbie. Matthew takes piano lessons like his dad did; Joel is the athlete and the typical middle child, always smiling; and Abbie is the princess with two older brothers. Steve and his family are members of Third Reformed Church where Steve serves as kitchen coordinator and, with help from the men's prayer group, does the cooking on Wednesday evenings for family night.
Steve says life in Holland is wonderful. He admires how people support each other and make good things happen. He likes being involved in the community and is president of the West Ottawa Education Foundation.
Steve's wife, Karen, his children, Matthew, Joel, and Abbie, along with Dykstra Funeral Home, Third Reformed Church, and the Holland Community all know Steve will do anything for them; that he'll do it anytime, and do it well. As Cervantes said: "Good actions ennoble us, we are the sons of our own deeds."
