Obituary

Bernard T. Meiners, 95 of Coon Rapids, died Monday, September 1, 2025 at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids surrounded by his family.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 5, 2025 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm, assisted by Deacon Louis Meiners. Music will be by Jane Heithoff and the St. Joseph’s Choir. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Jill Klein. Gift Bearers will be Talina Haskins, Caitlin ThongVahn, and Amanda Meiners. Casket Bearers will be Brian Meiners, Ben Meiners, Aaron Meiners, Lucas Meiners, Jason Nees, Mike Nees, Ryan Schultes, Tyler Schultes, Jordan Schultes, Justin Meiners, and Trenton Meiners. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dedham with military honors conducted by the Dedham American Legion.

A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Joseph’s Church on Friday morning where additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Bernard’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

*** Schedule Update **** Due to the forecasted timing of the winter storm.
The visitation and Rosary scheduled for this evening is now canceled. The services for Saturday will be held as follows:

The Funeral mass will be held at Noon on Saturday at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. A Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until noon at the church. Burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. at St. John’s Cemetery in Arcadia.

Frances Sander, age 105, of Carroll, died Sunday, January 9, 2022 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 15, 2022 at Holy Spirit Church St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Friedrichsen. Mass Servers will be Joe Casey, Nolan Watkins, and Claire Walsh. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Shari Schulte. Lectors will be Jeffry Sander and Matt Thatcher. Gift Bearers will be Maggie Sander, Kathy Sander, and Patricia Bryant. Casket Bearers will be Matthew Aschinger, Brenda Ballard, Allison Stockton, Doug Lenz, John Thatcher, Rick Sander, Anna Dawson, Scott Sander, Greg Kneifl, and Michael Sander. Burial will be at 12:45 p.m. at St. John’s Cemetery, Arcadia.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. A Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. by Frances’ family. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church on Saturday morning where visitation without greeting the family will be held from 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Frances’ family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Frances was born on November 1, 1916 near Mt. Carmel, Carroll County, Iowa, a daughter of George and Mary (Huelsing) Huegerich. She graduated 8th grade from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in 1931. For a number of years, Frances helped new mothers in their homes. She also worked at St. Anthony Hospital in the Nurses Cafeteria.
On November 27, 1940, Frances married Anthony “Tony” Sander at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church. They farmed north of Westside, and in 1949 they purchased and moved to a farm northeast of Arcadia. Frances led a very active life raising her 11 children and having a large garden, multiple flowers, ducks, geese, and chickens. She was also busy crocheting afghans, embroidering, making quilts, or some type of handiwork. Frances was also noted for her fried chicken, homemade cinnamon rolls, and bread. She leaves so very many memories.
In Arcadia, Frances was a member of St. John Parish, the Christian Mothers Soladity, and the senior card playing group. In 1991, she and Tony moved to Carroll and became members of Holy Spirit Parish, helping with many funeral dinners.
Frances is survived by her children: LeRoy, Paul, and Allan (Jacie) Sander all of Arcadia, Steve (Jan) and David (Joleen) Sander of Carroll, John (Marilyn) Sander of Omaha, LouAnn (Tom) Kneifl of Newcastle, Nebraska, and Mary (Chuck) Thatcher of Breda; daughter-in-law Eileen Sander of Carroll; son-in-law Bob (Ann) Lenz of Carroll; 46 grandchildren; 116 great grandchildren; 1 step-great grandchild; 5 great-great grandchildren, and 1 step-great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents George and Mary Huegerich; her husband Tony in 1998; sons Mark in 1977 and Denis in 1999; daughter Jean Lenz in 1998; daughter-in-law Janet Sander in 2021; a grandchild in infancy; siblings Ed (Clara) Huegerich, Lawrence (Cecilia) Huegerich, Clarence Huegerich, Leo (Margaret) Huegerich, Amelia (Ronald) Schulte, and Marita (Othmar) Berger; in-laws Joe Sander, Aloysis Sander, Leonard (Amelia) Sander, Johanna (Fred) Middendorf, Carrie (Ben) Leiting, Helen (Lawrence) Nieland, Marie (Wilbur) Ludwig, and Bertha (Fred) Vonnahme; and father and mother-in-law Joseph and Mary (Lemker) Sander.

Church Service

Friday, September 5, 2025 10:30 a.m.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
420 3rd Ave, Dedham, IA 51440

Burial

Sharp Funeral Home ~ Carroll, Iowa

226 W. 8th St., Carroll, IA, 51401

712-792-4301

[email protected]

https://www.sharpfuneral.com

Church Service

Thursday, September 4, 2025
5:00 – 7:00 p.m. – Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
Sharp Funeral Home – Carroll
226 W. 8th St, Carroll, IA 50401

Friday, September 5, 2025
9:30 – 10:15 a.m.
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
420 3rd Ave, Dedham, IA 51440

Obituary

Born March 31, 1930, he was the son of Bernard and Catherine (Rotert) Meiners. He grew up in the Dedham-Willey area and graduated from St. Mary’s School in Willey in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army July 8, 1953 and was stationed at Wurzburg, Germany. He was discharged on May 20, 1955.

Bernard married Dolores S. Halbur on January 24, 1956 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur. After being married Bernard and Dolores lived 3 miles north of Dedham for two years. In 1958, they moved to the farm they purchased four miles east of Dedham. They were the parents of six children: Daniel, Dale, David, Cathleen, Christine, and Gary. Dolores passed away January 21, 1978.

On August 9, 1980, Bernard married Marita Eickman at Annunciation Catholic Church in Coon Rapids. In May 2011, Bernard and Marita moved off the farm into the town of Coon Rapids, Iowa. They made their home there for 14 years. In April 2025, they moved to Parkview Assisted Living in Coon Rapids, Iowa.

During Bernard’s lifetime, he farmed, had a dairy operation, had a cow/calf operation, and raised hogs. He retired in 1992. He is a current member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Dedham, a member of the Dedham American Legion Post #20, and a member of the Manning VFW. In July 2001 Bernard, being a Korean Veteran, had the privilege to go on the Military Honor Flight to Washington DC. Just recently he was presented with a Quilt of Valor at Thomas Rest Haven, and at the age of 95 he still enjoyed attending the Legion meetings.

Bernard loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Holiday gatherings were a treat for him to get to see most of them at one time. In his spare time Bernard enjoyed gathering black walnuts in the fall and kept busy shelling the walnuts during the winter. Family and friends benefited from the fruits of his labor.

Bernard is survived by his wife of 45 years, Marita Meiners; his children, Dale (Mary) Meiners of Carroll, David (Jane) Meiners of Varna, IL, Cathleen (Larry) Nees of Coon Rapids, Christine (Mark) Schultes of Dedham, and Gary (Barb) Meiners of Manson; 19 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren with 2 more coming in October; a brother Anthony (Colleen) Meiners of Carroll; 2 sisters, Catherine Wittrock of Carroll and Marcella Naberhaus of Carroll; his sisters-in-laws, Margaret (Tom) Denker of Manning, and Pat (Joe) Goblirsch of Jesup. He is also survived by Marita’s children, Richard (Sandy) Eickman of Omaha, NE, James (Joni) Eickman of Dyer, TN, Dave (Joan) Eickman of Macungie, PA, Randy (Rose) Eickman of Coon Rapids, Nancy Eickman and Jim Springer of Warren, NJ, and Karen Heck of Delano, MN, and many nieces and nephews.

Bernard was preceded in death by his first wife Dolores S. Meiners; a son Daniel J. Meiners; Marita’s son Bill Eickman; his parents Bernard and Catherine Meiners; his brothers John (Margaret) Meiners, Albert (Frances) Meiners; his brothers-in-law Clarence Wittrock, Norbert Naberhaus, Cletus (Emaline) Halbur, Norman (Inez) Halbur, Larry (JoAnn) Halbur; his brother-in-law, William (Marie) Halbur; Dolores’ parents, William and Frances Halbur, and stepmother-in-law, Josephine Halbur.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bernard T. Meiners, please visit our Sympathy Store.

Tribute Wall

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Lit a candle in memory of Frances Sander

jolene berger – January 10 2022 at 10:35 PM

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Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum was purchased for the family of Frances Sander.

Comment #36300674 – January 14 2022 at 1:35 PM

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So sorry Sander families for your loss, very wonderful woman to know.

Lisa Gallagher – January 14 2022 at 9:49 AM

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Sweet Tranquility Basket was purchased for the family of Frances Sander.

Comment #36296608 – January 13 2022 at 9:56 PM

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Divine Peace Bouquet was purchased for the family of Frances Sander.

Comment #36294361 – January 13 2022 at 5:15 PM

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