The following obituaries are from the May 22, 2008 print edition of the Jordan Independent newspaper:

May A. (Mollenhauer) Esboldt

May Esboldt, 87, of Belle Plaine and formerly of Prior Lake, passed away on Saturday, May, 17, 2008 at the Gardenview Nursing Home in LeSueur.

She was born June 25, 1920 in LeSueur to Louis and Amanda (Kahle) Mollenhauer. May married Emil Esbolt on Sept. 24, 1960 at the LeSueur Zion United Church of Christ. Emil died Feb. 12, 1994. She was a member of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and the Prior Lake VFW Post 6208 Women’s Auxiliary.

She is survived by a brother, Allen (Marjorie) Mollenhauer of LeSueur; niece, Alainna Jane Holmes of Sioux Falls, S.D.; nephew, James Mollenhauer of LeSueur.

May was preceded in death by her husband, Emil Esboldt, and her parents Louis and Amanda Mollenhauer.

Visitation was Tuesday, May 20, from 5-8 p.m. at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home in Prior Lake and also at the church one hour prior to services.

Funeral service was held Wednesday, May 21, at 11 a.m. at Fish Lake Immanuel Lutheran Church in Prior Lake with the Rev. Dr. Harald Schoubye presiding. Interment at Fish Lake Lutheran Cemetery. Pallbearers were Richard Davidson, David Jones, Robert Kahle, James Mollenhauer, Art Drager and Gerald Mollenhauer.

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

Susan Hemstad

Susan Hemstad, 64, of Prior Lake and formerly of Alburnette, Iowa, passed away at her home on Monday, May 19, 2008.Susan Hemstad

She was born May 21, 1943 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to parents Orval and Dorothy (Taylor) Shaffer. Sue was a member of the Red Hat Association. She loved playing with her grandchildren, singing in the church choir and with the Sweet Adelines. She also enjoyed knitting and making baskets.

Loved and forever missed by her children, Eric (Jennifer) Burton of Grand Forks, N.D., Chad (Lisa) Burton of Rogers, Minn., Kim (Mike) Stetter of Mission Viejo, Calif., Katie (Brandon) Larson of Prior Lake, Holly (Andy) Brink of Chaska, Laura (Al) Hanson of Apple Valley; grandchildren, Abby Jo Burton, Louis, Mitchell and Grant Burton, Jake, Ryan and Tommy Stetter, Maddie, Nick and Lucas Larson, Bobby, Joseph and Henri Brink, Jack and Kate Hanson; brother, Jerry Shaffer of Independence, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be on Thursday, May 22, from 3-5 p.m. at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake. Celebration of Life Service will follow at 5 p.m. Private Interment at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Burton, Chad Burton, Kim Stetter, Katie Larson, Holly Brink, Laura Hanson

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

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 was Saturday, May 17, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Prior Lake. Interment on Tuesday, May 20, at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, at 12:15 p.m. Pallbearers were 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

Rita M. (Lambrecht) Lannon

Rita Lannon, 67, of Shakopee, passed away at her home surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, May 17, 2008 after an incredibly courageous battle with ovarian cancer.Rita Lannon

Rita was born in Shakopee on Aug. 17, 1940, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Marrinan) Menden. She married Roger Lambrecht from Jordan on June 11, 1960 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee. Roger passed away in 1983. Rita married Richard Lannon on Oct. 29, 1993 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Rita was a 1958 graduate of Shakopee High School. Rita started her career in 1984 with Scott County Court Administration and worked for 21 years until her retirement in 2005. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shakopee and a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary in Shakopee. Rita was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, stepmother, aunt and friend to many. We will always remember her positive attitude in life and wonderful smile that would light up a room. Rita will be greatly missed.

She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Lannon; children, Renee (Dan) Schmid, Ron (Lori) Lambrecht, Rob (Jen) Lambrecht, Annie (Dan) Leadstrom, Robin (Travis) Beck, all of Shakopee; sister, Esther Hennes of Shakopee; stepchildren, Lynn (Dave) Steichen of Prior Lake, Joan (Mike) Schwarz of Savage, Gail (Joe) Miller of Dallas, Texas, Cheryl (Steve) Heimel of Prior Lake; 12 grandchildren; 18 stepgrandchildren; nieces, nephews and three grandpuppies.

She was preceded in death by husband, Roger; parents; sisters, Mary and Arlene; brother and sister-in-law, Ed and Helen Menden.

Visitation was Tuesday, May 20, from 3-8 p.m. and Wednesday, May 21, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the McNearney Funeral Home, Shakopee.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Shakopee with the Rev. James T. Schoenberger officiating. Pallbearers included Dan Schmid, Dan Leadstrom, Travis Beck, Rob Schmid, Steve Steichen and Tom Steichen. Honorary pallbearers were David Steichen, Mike Schwarz, Joe Miller and Steve Heimel. Interment at Catholic Cemetery, Shakopee.

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

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 longtime 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) Roell 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 was 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 were Michelle Smisek, Jeffrey Hennes, Renae Hennes, Luann Hennes, Christina Roell, Mathias Kreuser, Katherine Kreuser, Russell Kreuser, and Joshua Kreuser.

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