Johnny Richard Palmer

Johnny Richard Palmer, age 66, of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away on October 19, 2025, surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on March 10, 1959, in Lansing, Michigan to Ralph Richard Palmer and Louise Kathryn Doerr.

John was a loving and highly spirited man. A devoted husband to his beloved wife Kandee, their bond was one of deep affection and partnership, shared not only with each other but also with their cherished dog, Coco.

As a father and grandfather, he was caring, playful, and endlessly loving. He shared countless jokes, and was always up for a tickle fight with his grandkids, delighting in their laughter and joy. Throughout his life he found a passion for gardening and nurturing the growth of plants and bringing beauty to his yard. He was not only a tender of the garden but of his family’s hearts. Ensuring they were always cared for before himself. He graduated from Rogers High School in Michigan City, Indiana in 1977.

Shortly after graduation, he started working at Bethlehem Steel and after many years of service with this company he moved to Colorado and became a massage therapist. As a masseuse, he worked in the cycling world. Most notably, he worked for the U.S. Cycling Team during the Coor’s International Bicycle Classic in the late 80’s. He was the first employee of the Great Harvest Bread Company in Boulder, Colorado in 1983. It was then that John’s joy of baking was sparked, and he opened a Great Harvest in Wilmington in 1994. One of his greatest joys in life was baking and enjoying food. As the owner of Great Harvest he loved connecting with his customers and community with a warm slice of freshly made bread and a smile. He was dedicated to sharing the comfort of his fresh bread with the Wilmington area where you could find his bread in many restaurants, and the donations he made to the Food Bank, Empty Bowls, and the Good Shepherd. For 23 years, he served the community and loved all of his customers and connections so dearly. John will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of those who were lucky to know him.

John is survived by his wife Kandee, his daughter Risa (Linden) Hunter; grandchildren Sola and Salix Hunter; siblings C. Mike (Dawn) Palmer, Sherri (Andy) Silcox, Simmi (Steve) Johnson, Kurt (Bonnie) Palmer and Bret (Natalie) Palmer. A celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date. Please check back for details.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: The Good Shepherd Center in Wilmington North Carolina. https://www.goodshepherdwilmington.org/donate/

Condolences can be sent to the family at www.coblegreenlawn.com