Thanking Neil Palmer

Update:

Thank you so much to everyone who was able to make it on Monday! Our Dad was completely surprised, and it was a wonderful celebration. You could feel the love and gratitude in the room, and he was truly touched. Thank you for helping us show him how much he's meant to Elm Grove.

And thank you to everyone who donated -- we've hit our goal of $10,000 for a new fishing pier in the pond! We're going to keep the donations open, since there are still people who are just hearing about Dad's retirement. (Dave De Angelis, the Village manager, also revised his estimate of the pier's cost to quite a bit more than $10,000, so every donation will go directly to that goal!) We will also keep accepting any letters or notes of thanks for our Dad -- just send a message through the contact button at the bottom of this page and we'll add it to the book we made for him.

Thank you again! This community means so much to our family, and we could not have asked for a better show of love and support for our Dad.

-The Palmer Kids

Shh, this is a surprise!

After 32 years of service, our dad, Neil Palmer, will oversee his last Elm Grove Village Board meeting on March 27, 2023. We’d like to recognize his contribution to our community, the countless unpaid hours he dedicated to the Village, and his example as a public servant.

My siblings and I grew up thinking it was normal to have family dinner interrupted by a resident calling to ask about fencing regulations, or for the police to come by the house each week to drop off a thick packet filled with all the documents our dad needed to read and review before the next Village meeting. Dad has given so much of himself to the Village – not just his time, but his energy, his love, and his tireless commitment. He did this work because he truly believes in democracy – that our communities thrive when local citizens come together to address their problems and find common solutions. For our Dad, improving your community is the first step to changing the world. His decades of service to the Village are a testament to that belief, and we want to show him what an impact he’s had.

We have a few areas we’d love your support in:

Most importantly: SHARE THIS! Who else needs to know?

Letter writing campaign

If Neil has impacted you in any way at all (not just in his Village work), please, tell him. We are collecting letters/emails/notes/cards to Neil to compile into a book. Message us here or mail them to Kelsey Brenn, 1933 N 1st St., Milwaukee WI 53212. Please send by March 17, if possible.

Contribute to Palmer Pier

Neil is a lifelong fisherman who finds peace in the fishing, not the catching. Today, he loves taking his four-year-old grandson Warner to cast into the Elm Grove pond. We hope to raise $10,000 to build a fishing pier in his honor in the Elm Grove pond.

Join Us

Join us on March 27 at 7:30pm at Elm Grove Village Hall to surprise Neil at his last meeting as Village President. We will present him with the book, tell him about Palmer Pier, and publicly thank him for all he’s done.

Our Dad has served Elm Grove for nearly half of the Village’s 68-year existence. Whether or not you agree with his decisions or his politics, we hope you’ll join us in recognizing him for all he’s given in pursuit of a better Elm Grove (and Wisconsin). In his time he’s:

-Completely remade the Village Park to prevent flooding and to be more user friendly

-Helped lead the redevelopment of downtown

-Championed clean water, alternative energy, and recycling across the county and state

-Added more walking and biking paths to the Village

-Helped grow and lead Village traditions like the Fourth of July fireworks and the Memorial Day parade

-Mentored municipal leaders statewide

Thank you! If you have any questions or ideas, please just let us know.

-The Palmer kids