The following obituaries are from the Oct. 11, 2008 print edition of the Prior Lake American newspaper:

James R. Hill

James “Jim” Hill, 78, of Prior Lake, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee.James R. Hill

Jim was born Dec. 5, 1929 in Minneapolis. His parents were William and Francis (Canton) Hill. He married Sue (Stevenson) Hill on Dec. 11, 1954 in Minneapolis.

He is loved and forever missed by wife, Sue Hill of Prior Lake; children, James Jr. (Kristine) Hill of Shakopee, Christopher (Shari) Hill of Andover, Mass., Catherine Hill of Prior Lake, David (Ann) Hill of Bloomington; five grandchildren, Emmanuelle, Alexandra, Evan, Ivy and Natalie Hill; brother, Roger Hill of Anaheim, Calif.

James is preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Everett Hill and Donald Beard.

Jim was a Civil Engineer, working in land development consulting. He was the founder and owner of James R. Hill, Inc. (1976 until retirement in 2002). He was a member of the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology Alumni, the Prior Lake Rotary Club, the Prior Lake Economic Development Council, the Scott County Planning Commission, the St. Paul Area Builders Association – Past President, the Builders Association of the Twin Cities – Past National Director, the United States Army Corp of Engineers – 1st Lieutenant, the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church of Eagan – Past President. He was a member of Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church.

Funeral service was Monday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church, Prior Lake, with visitation at the church two hours prior to service. Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. James was a U.S. Army veteran. The Fort Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad provided Military Honors. Pallbearers included James Hill Jr., Christopher Hill, David Hill, Evan Hill, Tom Strong and Steve Schnickels.

Funeral arrangements by Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, Shakopee, 952-445-1202. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com [1]

Roger William Whipps

Roger Whipps, 54, of Jordan, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2008 at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul.Roger Whipps

Roger was born Oct. 7, 1953 in Minneapolis. His parents were William and Edna (Galow) Whipps. Roger married Lori (Laddusaw) Whipps on Aug. 6, 1977 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Shakopee.

He is survived by wife, Lori Whipps; children, Katie Whipps, David Whipps and Robert Whipps, all of Jordan; sisters, Betty (Dorwin) McGowen of Prior Lake, Carol (Tim) Patterson of Savage; brother, Jerry Whipps of Prior Lake. He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Edna Whipps.

Roger enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycle, fishing, horseback riding, four-wheeling, spending time up north and reading the newspaper. He took pride in keeping his farm immaculate. Roger worked as a driver in the sanitation business.

Visitation was Tuesday, Oct. 7, from 3-8 p.m. at Ballard–Sunder Funeral Home in Jordan. Visitation at the church was one hour prior to services.

Mass of Christian Burial was Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jordan with Father Timothy Yanta and Deacon Al Schroeder presiding. Interment at Concord Hill Cemetery in Lydia. Pallbearers were Eldon Helget, Barry Lusignan, Scott Gaughran, Bob Weckman, Tom Koskovich and Mike Ebert.

Funeral arrangements by Ballard–Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan, 952-492-2818. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com [2]

Shirley Jean Roemer

Shirley Roemer was born to Lloyd and Leona (Galles) Buse on Jan. 25, 1938 near Balaton, Minn. As a small child, she moved with her parents to a farm northwest of Lake Wilson, Minn. where she was raised and attended country school. She continued her education at Lake Wilson High School.Shirley Roemer

After her graduation in 1956, she moved out east and became employed as the personal maid for Ira Haup, who owned Seventeen magazine. A year later, she moved to Minneapolis where she worked as a secretary at the University of Minnesota and then as a nurse’s aide at St. Joseph Hospital in St. Paul.

On June 21, 1958, she was united in marriage to Delwin Roemer at St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock, Minn. Following their marriage, they moved to South St. Paul. In May 1971, they moved to Iona, Minn. While living in Iona, Shirley and her husband owned and operated a bar. In February 1974, they moved to Glencoe, Minn. where Shirley worked at the off-sale municipal liquor store. In June 1976, they moved to St. Paul Park, Minn. where Shirley did daycare in their home. When they moved to Savage in October 1978, she also operated a daycare in their home. They moved back to Iona in August 1997 and in October 2004 they moved to Belle Plaine. In October 2005 they moved to Woodstock, Minn.

In August 2008, Shirley was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. On Monday, Sept. 29, 2008, she entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where she died on Thursday, Oct. 2, at the age of 70 years, eight months and seven days.

Shirley was a member of St. Martin Catholic Church in Woodstock, where she attended Bible Study. When she was a member of St. Columba Catholic Church in Iona, she was also a member of the Catholic Daughters. She enjoyed playing Scrabble, and she usually won. She also enjoyed listening to music, cooking and baking. Most of all, she enjoyed the time spent with her family. When she was younger, she really liked to go on family vacations and camp out with her family.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Del Roemer of Woodstock; eight children, Carrie Ganz and her husband Jim of Pine Island, Minn., Terry Roemer of Lake Benton, Minn., Pam Roemer of Hastings, Minn., Randy Roemer and his wife Steph of Shakopee, Troy Roemer and his wife Sheryl of Harrisonville, Mo., Nick Roemer and his wife Jenny of Shakopee, Brad Roemer and his wife Michelle of Prior Lake, and Tony Roemer and his wife Colleen of Kalamazoo, Mich.; 29 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four brothers, Don Buse and his wife Noriko of Avoca, Minn., Dale Buse and his wife Susy of Auburn, Calif., Jim Buse and his wife Judy of Woodstock, and Gerry Buse of St. James, Minn.; seven sisters, Joanne Halbur and her husband Roger of Slayton, Minn., Carol Mondry and her husband Don of Lake Wilson, Minn., Connie Johnson and her husband Darwin of Woodstock, Virginia Warren and her husband Walt of Iona, Mary Hill and her husband Bob of Hadley, Minn., Marcia Arkell and her husband Don of Madelia, Minn., and Christie Buse of Slayton. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Leona Buse, and her brother, Ken Buse.

Funeral arrangements were arranged by Hartquist Funeral Home in Pipestone, Minn., 1-877-725-5411. Del Roemer currently resides at 100 Smith Street North, Woodstock, Minn. 56186.