Harold Edward Palash

Harold Edward Palash passed away Saturday, March 21, 2015 in Galesburg, Illinois, at age 92. Harold was a lifelong resident of Chicago and Galesburg, but had close and loving connections to Groesbeck with his brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Mary Zeman and their family. A celebration of Harold’s life will be Saturday, March 28, 2015, at 1:00 P.M., at Faulkenberry Cemetery, with Dr. Tod Tanner of the First Baptist Church of Groesbeck officiating. Serving as pallbearers will be local family members, Mark Zeman, Mason Zeman, Zackery Zeman, David Cable, Sterling Cable, Carl Coffee, and Cecil Coffee. Honorary pallbears will be Dan Teague, Dale Zeman, and Brock Zeman. Harold was born June 11, 1922 to Rose Cecilia Rautenburg Palash in Chicago and the stepson of Anton Edward Zeman later when Rose and Anton were married. At age eleven, his sister Gloria was born, and when he was seventeen years old, Bob Zeman was born and became his lifelong best friend. After graduation from high school in Chicago, Harold worked at The Fair Store. However, when he was twenty-two, he completely lost his eyesight, and thus began his training, through the National Federation of the Blind, learning mobility and reading Braille. Harold was able to live his adult life independently and self-sufficiently. He was married to Frances DeBrown, also blind since early years, and together they had a daughter, Frances Bernadette. After operating a newsstand for a period of time, Harold made his living as a door-to-door salesman, carrying not only his cane but a suitcase in each hand with the articles he sold. This was in the dead of winter and heat of summer in Chicago for twenty years, traveling by bus and often changing buses three times a day. He was a persuasive salesman who could convince the person at the door of the good reasons for purchasing his wares. He then moved to Galesburg to work in sheltered workshops for the next fifteen years. Harold married his second wife, Bernice Hackman (who also was blind) in 1973. Harold was a faithful Christian and member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Galesburg; he never missed a Sunday service as long as his health permitted. He was also a member of the National Federation of the Blind, and was invited to speak at their National Conference on two different occasions. He was a man who was interested in everything and loved to learn and use his information in a positive way. For example, he made it a point to learn one new word each week and put into his daily conversations. Bob and Mary were close to Harold and his family while they lived in Chicago, often playing cards (in Braille) but also roller skating, bowling and horseback riding. He visited Bob and Mary frequently in Groesbeck, where he was able to drive the lawn mower and tractor in the pasture and enjoy fishing and shooting guns into the tank, thanks to Mark Zeman and Carl Coffee. After retiring, Harold listened to the radio through late night hours for the news, sports, and talk shows; he loved to discuss politics and financial and consumer information with Bob. He was asked frequently to speak to groups, and his questions were: “What subject and how long do I have?” He did have a dry wit although he discussed serious topics. Harold loved food and he loved to shop. He was out of the house at least five days a week to various places, and two days were devoted to shopping. His helper, Irene Register, helped him shop, and in turn he taught her about purchasing for quality and being positive about living life. For five years she was his aid; and at the end of his life, she sat with him, held his hand, and prayed with him, and was with him in his last hours. His family and friends in Groesbeck, as well as in Illinois and Wisconsin, were with him in their hearts, and grieve in their loss of a dear father and brother. Harold had a deep appreciation for life and others, and was grateful for even the smallest acts of kindness. Most of all, to those who knew and loved him, Harold Palash was an inspiration because of his courageous determination and zest for life. Harold was preceded in death by his mother, Rose Cecilia Rautenburg-Palash-Zeman; step-father, Anton Edward Zeman; and wife, Bernice Hackman Palash; and grandson, Tim Teague. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Frances Bernadette Palash Teague and Dan Teague of DesPlaines, IL; grandchildren, Gina Teague and Dan Teague and three great grandchildren; sister, Gloria Zeman Dahl of Marinette, WI; brother and sister-in-law, Robert Roy (Bob) and Mary Zeman of Groesbeck; and numerous nieces and nephews: Robin and David Cable of Groesbeck, Mark and Penny Zeman of Groesbeck, Dale and Lynn Zeman of Linden, VA, Kathy and Al Strayer of Portage, WI, Linda and Larry Phillips of Marinette, WI, Dan and Mary Dahl of Akron, Ohio; many great nieces and nephews; and his dear friend, Irene Register. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Harold may be made to Groesbeck Academic Scholarship, % Mrs. Martha Longbotham, 109 Meadow Lane, Groesbeck, TX 76642.