The following obituaries are from the Feb. 13, 2010 print edition of the Prior Lake American newspaper:

Shelly Jo Zillmer

Shelly was a caring, hardworking wife, mother, daughter and sister. She was someone who always put others before herself and could fill a room with her laughter.

Family was her biggest passion in life. Her career and serving families, as a home health aide, was also very important. She was employed at Belle Plaine Lutheran Home and Valley View Nursing Home. Shelly loved to bowl weekly in a league in Belle Plaine. She enjoyed soap operas, cooking, baking and traveling with her family, with special memories of the trip to Alaska for her 25th wedding anniversary.

Shelly, 50, of Jordan, passed away Sunday, Feb. 7, 2010 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee. Born Aug. 2, 1959, in Glencoe, she was the daughter of Earl and Darlene (Studemann) Graupman. She was united in marriage to Darrell Zillmer on July 2, 1977 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Babbitt, MN.

She is loved and will be missed by husband, Darrell B. Zillmer; children, Anthony Zillmer of Prior Lake, Teri (Thomas) Eastman of Fayetteville, NC, Tyler Zillmer of Jordan and Tracy Zillmer of Jordan; mother, Darlene Graupman of Babbitt, MN; sister, Sandra (Kevin) Gibson of Embarrass, MN; brother, Steven (Linda) Graupman of Cottage Grove; father-in-law, Darrell D. Zillmer of Conroe, TX; many nieces and nephews.

Shelly is preceded in death by her father, Earl Graupman, and mother-in-law, Jacqueline Zillmer.

Celebration of Life Service was Thursday, Feb. 11, at 1 p.m. with visitation two hours prior to the service, all at Hope Lutheran Church, Jordan. The Rev. Steve Thompson officiated. A private family inurment will be at Waasa Township Cemetery in Embarrass.

Arrangements made by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan Chapel. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com

Joyce G. Haferman

Joyce, a good-hearted, genuine, unselfish and an extremely dedicated husband, father and grandfather. A man who loved his country, his town, his church and most of all his family.

He attended school in Spring Lake Township and after worked on the family farms. Eventually, he worked for a sand and gravel business known as Haferman & Stark in Prior Lake. Joyce worked for the Scott County Highway as a highway maintenance supervisor for 36 years. Baseball was a joy in his life. He helped form the original “Class A” Prior Lake town baseball team named the “Lakers,” where he also served as the president. A former District Director of American King Pigeon Club, president of Minnesota King Pigeon Club and was on the Board of Trustees of Zion United Methodist Church in Lydia and Holy Trinity United Methodist Church, as well as an active member.

Joyce, 97, a lifelong resident of Prior Lake, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 at his home. Born June 30, 1912 on the family farm in Spring Lake Township, he was the son of August and Minnie (Adam) Haferman. He was united in marriage to Bessie Stark on Sept. 26, 1936 at Zion United Methodist Church in Lydia, MN.

He is loved and will be missed by son, James (Joanne) Haferman of Fifty Lakes, MN; daughter, Judy (Marv) Pint of Prior Lake; grandsons, Tim (Chrystine) Haferman, Todd (Cindy) Haferman; great–grandchildren, Cole, Grant, Blake and Riley Haferman; other relatives and friends. Joyce is preceded in death by his wife, Bessie; parents; sisters, Clara Miller, Delilah Bolz, Cora Maas; brothers, Erwin, Howard and Lawrence Haferman.

Visitation was Friday, Feb. 12, from 4-8 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake, and also one hour prior to the service at church.

Celebration of Life Service will be Saturday, Feb. 13, at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity United Methodist Church 16150 Arcadia Ave S.E., Prior Lake. Interment will be at Concord Hill Cemetery in Lydia, MN.

Arrangements made by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake Chapel. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com

Alphonse “Al” Edmund Jelen

Al was a caring, gentle and hardworking man, who loved rural living and was a special husband, father and grandfather.Alphonse Jelen

He attended Catholic school at St. Leo, MN. Al helped on the family farm, until serving in the United States Army from Nov. 22, 1943. He was honorably discharged April 30, 1946. He was employed at Jordan Welding Shop, then started farming near Jordan. In February of 1965, he started working at Thermo King Refrigeration in Bloomington until retiring in 1988. He was a member of the United Steel Workers Union, American Legion, V.F.W. and Catholic Aid Association.

Al, 84, of Belle Plaine, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, at his home Monday, Feb. 8, 2010, after a courageous, 19-month battle with colon cancer.

He was born Oct. 12, 1925, in St. Leo, the youngest of nine children, the son of Frank and Anna (Kockelman) Jelen. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Lambrecht, daughter of Nick and Clara (Ruppert) Lambrecht, on Nov. 5, 1949 at St. John the Baptist Church in Jordan.

He is loved and will be missed by wife of 60 years, Dorothy (Lambrecht) Jelen; daughter, Diane (George) Martin of Eden Prairie; granddaughters, Holly Martin of Winsted, Jessica (George) Fisher of Mesa, AZ; sisters-and brother-in-law, Ruth (Roman) Hoofhower of Belle Plaine, Mary Ann Bauer of Belle Plaine, Maddie Lambrecht of Jordan; godchild, Kenneth Hartmann of Jordan; 18 nieces and nephews.

Al is preceded in death by son, David Jelen; parents; brother, John (Martha) Jelen; infant brother, Alphonseus; stepmother, Anna (Lord) Jelen; sisters and brothers-in-law, Agnes (Jules) Anseeuw and first husband, Bernard Hoffman, Marie (Felix) Gossen, Helen (John) Hartman, Justine (Ray) Kirkvleit, Philomene (Leander) Zumwalde and first husband, Clem Schroeder, Eleanor (Noel) Mensing, Harold Lambrecht, Cletus Bauer and Sylvester Gansen; parents-in-law, Nick and Clara Lambrecht.

Visitation was Friday, Feb. 12,from 4-8 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan, and one hour prior to the Mass at church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, Feb.13,at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church 210 North Broadway, Jordan. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Jordan, with honors provided by the Jordan Honor Guard. Pallbearers will be Vernon Hartman, Eugene Hartman, Boniface Schroeder, Everett Schroeder, Ron Kirkvleit, Kevin Bauer, Duane Bauer, and Glen Bauer.

Arrangements made by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan Chapel.www.ballardsunderfuneral.com

John Wilbert Creighton Jr.

John was a kind, caring, playful husband, father, son and friend. He was soft spoken, clever and known for his dry sense of humor.

A graduate from the University of Minnesota, John also lettered in track and field. John taught as an English teacher in Illinois before serving in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War. He then was a business office manager for the Navy Reserve. John also worked at Control Data, retiring as a business office manager for the Dakota County Library System. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and bowling. John was a past commander and served in the Color Guard for the V.F.W. Post 6208. For over 10 years, he taught Sunday school at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church.

John, 63, of Prior Lake, passed away Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 at Three Links Care Center in Northfield, MN. Born Oct. 15, 1946, in Chicago, Ill, he was the son of John W. and Mildred (Behrendt) Creighton Sr. He was united in marriage to Connie Brower on Aug. 25, 1978 at Fort Snelling National Chapel in Minneapolis.

He is loved and will be missed by wife, Connie; sons, Craig Creighton of Brookings, SD and Carl Creighton of Prior Lake; granddaughter, Kayla Hunter; father, John W. Creighton Sr. of Sioux Falls, SD; brother, Bill (Cindy) Creighton of Tamarack, MN; sisters, Joan Creighton of Richfield, Millie Creighton of Vancouver, BC, Margie Olson of Savage; other relatives and friends. John is preceded in death by his daughter, Amanda Creighton; mother, Mildred.

Visitation was Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 4-7 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake, and also one hour prior to the service at church.

Celebration of Life Service was Thursday, Feb. 11, at 11 a.m. at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, with military honors provided by the Prior Lake V.F.W. Honor Guard.

Arrangements made by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake Chapel. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com