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CANBY--Jamie (James) Dean Jelen, age 52, a devoted husband and father, passed away peacefully at his home on July 25, 2026, surrounded by his family, following a courageous eight-year battle with metastatic prostate cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 am Friday, July 31, 2026 at St. Leo Catholic Church in St. Leo, MN with Fr. Tanner Thooft celebrating. Burial will be in the St. Leo Catholic Cemetery, St. Leo, MN. Visitation will be 5 - 8 pm with a 7:30 pm Prayer Service on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at the Canby Sportsman's Activity Center in Canby, MN and will resume Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. Houseman Funeral Home, Birk Chapel in Canby, Minnesota is entrusted with the arrangements.
Jamie was born on November 8, 1973, in Canby, MN, to parents Eugene and Doreen (DeVlaeminck) Jelen. He grew up in the St. Leo and Canby communities. He was a 1992 graduate of Canby High School, where he met his love of a lifetime, Teresa Erp. The two were married on September 23, 1995, and welcomed five beautiful children to their family during their 30 years of marriage.
Jamie dedicated 30 years of his life to being a contractor. He began his career learning and working for his brother, Dale, at DJ Construction. He worked for McLaughlin & Schultz, SMI and Helena where he met many of his lifelong friends. He founded Jelen Construction, serving Canby and the surrounding communities, working alongside his father, Geno and his crew. He poured his heart into building homes and doing projects for others.
Jamie's greatest joy in life was his family. He never missed a sporting event for his children and found great pride in supporting them in their endeavors. He embraced being the world's best girl dad, his proudest title.
Jamie also loved nature. He enjoyed farming and helping his family with farming, planting, and harvesting. His favorite time of year was the fall, when he spent time deer hunting with his friends and family and spent time at the Jelen Huntin' Shack, where many memories were made. He also enjoyed trips to Canada fishing with his best friends.
He is survived by his loving wife, Teresa Jelen; his children; Kyler Jelen, Kalli (Jelen) and Zachary Binde, Hannah Jelen, and Rachel Jelen; his mother, Doreen (DeVlaeminck) Jelen; siblings; Dale (Nancy) Jelen, Howard Jelen, and Steve (Melissa) Jelen; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Jamie was preceded in death by his daughter, Paeden Marie Jelen, his brother, Terry Lynn Jelen, his father, Eugene John Jelen, his mother-in-law, Cheryl Ann Erp, and his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
While he was a man of few words, everyone who knew him knows that he and Geno are enjoying a Miller Lite in Heaven, sitting with his brother Terry, holding his daughter Paeden, and playing a game of rummy with his mother-in-law Cheryl.
Blessed be his memory.