The following obituaries are from the May 17, 2008 print edition of the Prior Lake American newspaper:

Wendy L. Barker

Wendy Barker, 46, of Apple Valley and formerly of Prior Lake, passed away at home surrounded by her family and friends on Saturday, May 10, 2008.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Brian; sons, Erik Thompson, Mike and Jamie Thompson, all of Apple Valley; stepdaughters, Briana and Abbi Barker of Milaca: five grandchildren, Rolin, Cameron, Meghan, Kaleigh and Bailey; nieces and nephews; parents, Orin and Betty Turnquist of Montevideo, Minn.; sisters, Sherri and Mike Christians of Bay City, Texas and Lisa Abrahamson of Montevideo. Preceding her in death were her grandparents and daughter in-law, Misty, in 2006.

Wendy was born on June 8, 1961 in Alexandria, Minn. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family.

Services were held on May 14, 2008 at Celebration Church in Lakeville.

William A. Hauer

William “Bill” Hauer, 86, of Shakopee, died Monday, May 12, 2008 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Shakopee.William Hauer

Bill was born in Shakopee on Oct. 20, 1921 to Peter and Clara (Kopp) Hauer. He married Nelly Hennen on June 12, 1945 in Marystown. He was a retired farmer.

Survivors include his wife, Nelly; daughters, Lynn (******) Geiser, Pat (Al) Niedorf, all of Shakopee; three grandchildren, Jessica (Matthew) Grandstaff, Arica (Matt) Logeais, Alicia (Scott) Worthey; seven great-grandchildren; sisters, Lorraine Ries, Evelyn Luce; two brothers, Gene (Ginny) Hauer, Jim (Mary Ann) Hauer.

He was preceded in death by parents; three sisters, Lucille Odenwald, Dorothy Schroeder, Bernice Stemmer; brother, Melvin Hauer.

Visitation was Friday, May 16, from 5-8 p.m. at the McNearney Funeral Home, Shakopee

Memorial Mass is Saturday, May 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Shakopee, with the Rev. William F. Stolzman officiating. Interment at Catholic Cemetery, Shakopee. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Funeral arrangements through the McNearney Funeral Home in Shakopee, 952-445-2755. www.mcnearneyfuneralhome.com [1]

Stephen Russell Cassem

Stephen Cassem, 60, of Shakopee, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2008 at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, Shakopee.Stephen Cassem

Steve Russell Cassem was born in Blue Earth, Minn. on March 23, 1948 to Merle and Laura (Dutton) Cassem. He graduated from Blue Earth High School and attended Austin Junior College before joining the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served in Vietnam. Steve and Lynn Borchardt were married Dec.3, 1977 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Prior Lake. They were blessed with four children.

Steve was active in the business communities of Shakopee and Prior Lake for the past 30 years. He was the owner of Cassem Clothing and the current owner of Shakopee Vacuum and Thermax Carpet Cleaners. He was an active member of the Prior Lake V.F.W. and a member of the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce.

Steve had a zest for life. He loved being a husband, father and grandfather. He really enjoyed his family and expressed often how much we all meant to him. He enjoyed all spectator sports as well as participating in motorcycling, snowmobiling, boating, and four-wheeling.

Loved and forever missed by his wife, Lynn; children, Adena (Todd) Johnson of Monticello, Courtney (fiancé Bill Schwagel) Cassem of Brooklyn Park, Shawna Cassem and Blake Cassem both of Shakopee; grandchildren, Teagan, Torri, Treysen Johnson, Cydney Cassem, Gabrielle and Samuel Schwagel; brothers, Marty (Deanna) Cassem Sr. of Blue Earth, Minn., Larry (Bonnie) Cassem of Elk River, Minn.; sisters, Dora (Ron) Fowler of Truman, Minn., Donna (David) Fischer of Bakersfield, Calif.; mother and father-in-law, Norman and Mildred Borchardt of Prior Lake; brother-in-law, Gary Borchardt of Belle Plaine; nieces, nephews and relatives.

Visitation was held Friday, May 16, from 4-8 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake, and also one hour prior the service at church on Saturday.

Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, May 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Prior Lake. Interment will be on Tuesday, May 20, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, at 12:15 p.m. Pallbearers will be Marty Cassem Jr., Jerad Borchardt, Travis Fowler, Gary Borchardt, Mark Luhmann, and Chris Steinert.

Funeral arrangements by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Prior Lake. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com [2]

Lucille C. (Hentges) Kreuser

Lucille Kreuser, 95, of Shakopee, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at Mala Strana Care Center in New Prague.

Lucille was born March 24, 1913 in Marystown. Her parents were Jacob and Mary (Breeggemann) Hentges. Lucille married Mathias “Math” Kreuser Jr. on May 1, 1935 at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church, Marystown. Mathias died May 16, 1999. She was a member of the Christian Mothers Society in Marystown. Lucille was a long-time active member of the Church of St. Mark in Shakopee and in early years St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church. She worked the dairy farm with her husband. She enjoyed fishing and traveling the USA and abroad with her sisters. She also enjoyed quilting, embroidering and was a bird watcher.

She is survived by children, Barbara (Jerry) Hennes of New Prague, George (Dawn) Kreuser of Harris, Minn.; nine grandchildren, Michelle (Jeff) Smisek of Lonsdale, Jeffrey (Jennifer) Hennes of Lonsdale, Renae Hennes of New Prague, Luann Hennes of Morristown, Christina (Oliver) Roll of Lonsdale, Mathias Kreuser of Cologne, Katherine Kreuser of Mankato, Russell Kreuser of Pennsylvania, Joshua (Stephanie) Kreuser of California; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters, Josephine Klehr of Chaska, Leona Speiker of Prior Lake, Elizabeth Hentges of Shakopee, Marie (Russell) Spoerner of Chaska; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Lucille was preceded by husband Mathias; parents; siblings, Rose (Andrew) Preisen, Florian (Antonette and Clara) Hentges, Edmumd (Marie) Hentges, Wilfred (Esther) Hentges.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, May 19, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church in Marystown with visitation at the church from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Her final resting place will be at Marystown Catholic Cemetery. Pallbearers are Michelle Smisek, Jeffrey Hennes, Renae Hennes, LuAnn Hennes, Christina Roll, Mathias Kreuser, Katherine Kreuser, Russell Kreuser, and Joshua Kreuser.

Funeral arrangements by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Shakopee. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com [3]