Karolis Matthew Palmiter

Born March 26, 2004 in Vilkaviskis, Lithuania, Karolis Matthew Palmiter, along with his younger brother Lukas, were lovingly adopted on December 3, 2010 by Donald (D. J.) and Indre Palmiter.

Blessed with natural athletic abilities, aggressiveness and a strong, solid, tall body, Karolis loved to play and excelled at football, baseball, basketball and soccer. He instantly made friends along the way because of his athleticism and his enormous personality on and off the field. He loved tubing, skiing, camping and being on the lake at the cottage in Michigan with his family. Karolis had an immense heart, a beautiful smile and a great sense of humor. At times he reveled at being the lone Vikings fan (he liked the color purple) in an extended family of Packers fans. Karolis absolutely loved and adored his younger brother Lukas. Together they shared many tube rides, ski runs, snowball fights, and one-on-one basketball and football games.

Karolis began a journey of healing after finishing 8th grade at Stone Bank School in Oconomowoc. On this journey, with unconditional love and support from his family, he trodded through many valleys and ascended to some amazing heights. Karolis succumbed to an accidental drug overdose on October 18, 2023 while between treatment programs in Utah.

On his high school diploma, received from Resolute Academy on December 10, 2021, it reads "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Karolis is survived by his parents D. J. and Indre (Gaska) Palmiter, brother Lukas, aunts Kim (Ryan) Littlefield, Patti (Patrick) Pauly, and Laura Palmiter, uncles Daniel (Tia) Palmiter, Gint (Ruta) Gaska, and Gil (Jen) Gaska, cousins Justin Littlefield, Ryan, Nicholas and Matthew Pauly, Prescott and Price Palmiter, Virgilia and Veronika Gaska, and Andriejus, Anika and Aleksandra Gaska, grandparents Remigius Gaska and Vida Gaska. Karolis was preceded in death by his grandparents Donald E. and Patricia A. Palmiter. Karolis is also survived by his birth mother and a half sister in Lithuania, along with other relatives.

The family is grateful to God for bringing Karolis into their lives and find comfort in His unending, unfathomable Love and Mercy for all His children. They also express their heartfelt love and appreciation to their immediate and extended families, their friends, co-workers and all of the teachers, counselors, tutors, coaches, teammates, classmates and therapists for their support and, perhaps most importantly, their ability to see and believe in Karolis’ potential despite the tremendous early childhood challenges he endured.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 1:00 PM with a visitation for family and friends starting at 11:00 AM all to take place at St. Jerome Catholic Parish (995 S Silver Lake St. Oconomowoc, WI 53066). Karolis will be laid to rest at St. Jerome Catholic Cemetery following mass.

Memorial donations in Karolis’s memory may be made to the SOFA Inc. Archie Badura Memorial Fund at the Waukesha County Community Foundation. The SOFA fund provides for advocacy, awareness, sober living scholarships and action efforts with mental health and substance use disorder.

Donations (made payable to the SOFA Fund) can also be made online at waukeshafoundation.org/sofa or via check mailed to the following address.

Waukesha County Community Foundation

2727 North Grandview Boulevard, Suite 301

Waukesha, WI 53188