Twila June (Heisner) Palu

Twila June Palu

Twila was born April 24, 1935 to Dorothy (Obermiller) Heisner and Lloyd Heisner at Rockville, NE. She attended school at Rockville, graduating in 1952 as Valedictorian of her class. She was very active in school activities, 4-H, and riding her horse in Horse Shows. She met her future husband, Richard playing 4-H softball. After graduation she went to college for the summer at Kearney State (University of Nebraska, Kearney) and started teaching a rural school in the fall of 1952. She continued to teach full time or substituting until she retired in 2000 after working in education for 49 years. She obtained her B.A. in Elementary Education, Early Childhood, and Special Education in 1975 and M.S. in Education Psychology, Guidance/Counseling in 1980 both from the University of Nebraska, Kearney. Over the years she also attended the University of Kansas for Social Work. She continued to help her husband on the farm and in his business when she lived in NE. She joined St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City, NE in 1953. She was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Worland, WY. She married Richard Palu on Nov. 20, 1954 in St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City, NE. They lived in Nebraska until 1981 when they moved to Worland, WY where she had taken a teaching position with the Worland School District. She worked for the district until she retired. She was active in the Nebraska Education Association, Council of Exceptional Children, Recognized member of the National Profession of Special Education, Council of Catholic Women, Cursillo in conjunction with the Catholic Church, piano player for the church, Delta Kappa Gamma, Board member for NOWCAP and very active in the American Legion Auxiliary having served as President. She loved music learning to play the piano at the age of eight and continued with lessons until her marriage studying to be a concert pianist. She also loved to sing especially with the Polish Choir at St. Josaphat’s Catholic Church in Loup City, NE. She was an avid reader and quilter, having made quilts for all her children and many of the grandchildren. She loved to travel to visit family and friends as well as the trips that were enjoyed with her husband just for fun.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Richard Palu, her son Stephen Palu, her daughter Karen Beeler, son-in-law Nicky Fieldgrove, daughters-in-law Kim Palu and Collette Palu, and brother Darrol Heisner.

Twila is survived by her children: Kaylyn (Tim) Wojtalewicz of Grand Island, NE, Richard Palu Jr. of Black Hawk, SD, Randy (Shawna) Palu of Round Mountain, NV, Tim (Christy) Palu of Gillette, WY, and son-in-law Jim Beeler of Elba, NE. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Rickie Stam, Lacie Wojtalewicz, Randie Spiehs, Robin Grim, Breanna Ennis, Stephanie Palu, Nicolette Archer, Mathew Palu, Mandy Ulmer, AJ Palu, Samy Palu, Terina Davis, Cheyenne Gillette, Daxton Palu, Koni Berger, Rissa Henke, and Anthony Villareal as well as numerous great-grandchildren.

A Vigil will be held at 7pm, Sunday, October 2, 2022 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Worland, WY, 1099 Charles Avenue. On Monday, October 3, 2022 a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church at 10am with burial to follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens in Worland, WY. Memorial contributions can be made out to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 44, P.O. Box 735, Worland, WY 82401. Arrangements have been entrusted to Veile Mortuary.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Twila June (Heisner) Palu, please visit our floral store.