(Des Moines, IA) — A two-time former director of the Iowa Department of Human Services has died. Charles Palmer’s death was announced Sunday. Former Governor Terry Branstad named Palmer the director of DHS twice.  The first was in 1989 when he served as director of DHS until 1999, and again in 2011. Before serving as director, Palmer was the Department’s administrator of the Division of Mental Health.  He retired from the Department in 2017.

Current D-H-S Director Kelly Garcia remembered him as “a great public servant, leader, and friend.” Garcia said also, “I’m grateful and thankful for his kind words of encouragement and partnership over the past two years, I was fortunate to have known him. He had a tremendous passion for those we serve and for supporting the team at DHS. His work and passion continued up to his passing. He will be deeply missed.”