Michael Clyde Palmer

Michael Palmer, husband of Gloria, father of Melissa, Aaron and Benjamin, grandfather of 5, founder of Arrakis Systems, Inc, unexpectedly passed away Monday, August 9th, 2021 at the age of 69. He was scuba diving with his best friend and love of his life on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Mike was born to Betty and Clarence Palmer on October 4th, 1951 and raised in Los Angeles, CA. He grew up getting into trouble with his younger brother John, reading physics text books and science fiction. He always had a love of science, technology, and innovation.

Mike received a Bachelor's Degree in Physics with a minor in Electronic Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. After which, he went on to teach electronic classes in San Francisco, where he met Gloria Vader, who was his student and then his wife. They were married August 17th, 1974.

They lived in Santa Barbara for 2 years, then moved to southern Missouri where Mike built their first house on 50 acres an hour north of Springfield. Mike also worked at Woodson Electronics in Bolivar, MO as VP & Engineer designing audio equipment for the music industry. Gloria was hired as the Chief Engineer of KMSU, Southwest Missouri State's 10kW FM radio station in Springfield.

It was during this time that their first two children were born and they also started their business, Arrakis Systems, Inc. They combined their knowledge of the radio industry and engineering audio mixers to produce their first console, which was installed at KMSU. In 1982 they moved to Fort Collins where their third child was born and they continued to build and expand their business. Since then, dozens of console lines, digital radio automation systems and hardware, have been designed and sold to 10s of thousands all over the world to every market imaginable.

Over the last several years, Mike decided to take more time to spend with his wife in Hawaii and his grandchildren when in Colorado. He remained involved in the company as he eased into retirement while his children carry on his dream at Arrakis.

Mike and Gloria are both converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and joined early on in their marriage. Mike had the blessing of serving in many different callings, including as a home teacher/minister, on the High Council in multiple stakes, and a Bishop over the Prairie Ridge Ward. He loved serving our Heavenly Father, and helping others.

His advice, experience, knowledge and creativity will be missed and remembered. However, it is his example, kindness, wisdom, loving heart, and desire to serve and uplift everyone around him that will be missed the most.