James Michael Palmer

James Michael Palmer was born September 6, 1954, in Santa Monica with twin sister Joanne Maureen to the late Howard MacFarland Palmer and Rae Alice (Sands) Palmer. He grew up in Southern California in the Manhattan Beach, Anaheim areas. He served in the Navy, where he was in the drum and bugle corps and learned firefighting. After leaving the Navy, he had multiple jobs with the US Postal Service, UPS, while studying fire science. He started his firefighting career in the California Department of Forestry (CDF), now CAL Fire, then went on to Moffett Field as a federal firefighter. In 1980 was hired on to Milpitas Fire Department where he spent 24 years and retired as a Fire Captain.

Jim met Barbara (Bobbi Jo) when she was a paramedic in July 1986, and after a brief courtship, was married in 1987 at their home in Modesto. Jim and Bobbi Jo moved often and enjoyed hosting family and friends at their various homes. Jim loved pets but mostly his dogs, in which he's had many. During his illness, Jim was comforted by his three dogs Sammy, Belle, Mimi, and Dude the cat.

In August of 2020, Jim was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Lung cancer, and on May 18, 2021, he left us to be free from all pain and suffering. He leaves behind his loving wife of 34 years, Bobbi Jo, devoted daughters Mindy (Daniel) of Capitola, Jacqueline (Ya-sin), brother Ken, sisters Patti, Joanne (Phil), many nieces and nephews and grandson August James, and granddaughter Nia Bobbie, other relatives and many friends. His brother Rick passed before him.

Jim's memorial service was privately held, May 30th 2021 in Hollister.

Published in Gilroy Dispatch, Morgan Hill Times, Hollister Free Lance and The Pajaronian · June 17, 2021