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.

Lois Grote, age 85, of Breda, died Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, Iowa.

Lois Grote, age 85, of Breda, died Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, Iowa.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 15, 2020 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Friedrichsen. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Gary Snyder. Music will be by Marilyn Hundling and the St. Bernard’s Choir. Mass Servers will be: Antonia, Bernadette, and Nico Venturi. Lector for the funeral mass will be Arlene Mueggenberg. Gift Bearers will be Lois’ grandchildren. Eucharistic Ministers will be Leonard and Jean Grote. Casket Bearers will be: Melissa Toney, Darrin Toney, Chance Wiese, Nathan Kult, Steve Nepp, and Bill Neppl. The Breda Legion Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the funeral mass. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call at St. Bernard’s Church in Breda after 4 p.m. on Friday. There will be a Rosary prayed at 5 p.m., and a Christian Wake Service will be held at 6:30 p.m.
Visitation will resume at St. Bernard’s Church on Saturday morning from 9 a.m. -9:45 a.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Breda, and online condolences may be left for Lois’ family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on September 21, 1934 at Carroll, Iowa, Lois was the daughter of Henry and Lena (Pietig) Neppl. She grew up in the Carroll area and attended St. Mary’s School in Willey. On April 11, 1959, Lois was united in marriage to Elmer Grote at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Carroll. The couple made their home southwest of Breda where Elmer was engaged in grain and livestock farming. Lois was a devoted homemaker and housewife with a great talent of cooking and baking; her specialties being cinnamon rolls and homemade bread. Lois loved to garden and shared the fruits of her labors with family and friends. She enjoyed spending time with her family and listening to sporting events on the radio. Lois was active with the Breda American Legion Auxiliary, St. Bernard’s Parish, and Parish Ladies Guild where she served in various capacities over the years.
Lois is survived by her husband of 60 years, Elmer Grote; her children: Deb (Keith) Kult of Coon Rapids, Dave (Toni) Grote of Arcadia, Russell Grote of Arcadia, and Janet (Tom) Grote-Knight of Bettendorf; her grandchildren: Kylie Grote, Melissa Toney, Kelsey Wiese, Nathan Kult, and Jessie Grote; her great-grandchildren: Adie and Wyatt Toney; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Mary Jane (Dick) Collison of Carroll, Rosie Neppl of Illinois, Vernon Grote of Carroll, Charla Grote of Farnhamville, Leonard (Jean) Grote of Breda and Joe (Donna) Grote of Carroll; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents; her son Jeff Grote; her son John Grote in infancy; her siblings: Everett Neppl, Wilbur Neppl, Elmer Neppl, Leo Neppl, Helen Sanders, Arthur Neppl, Myron Neppl, Earl Neppl, Eugene Neppl, and Don Neppl.

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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Grote family: We were sorry to learn of Lois' death. Our thoughts and prayers will be with all of you in the days ahead. Peace to you........Wes & CJ Niles

CJ Niles – February 27 2020 at 2:43 PM

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Lit a candle in memory of Lois Grote

Patty Grote Trucke – February 13 2020 at 10:57 AM

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Leonard, Jean, Pam and the Venturi family & Steve purchased the Divine Peace Bouquet for the family of Lois Grote.

Leonard, Jean, Pam and the Venturi family & Steve – February 13 2020 at 1:01 PM

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Ocean Breeze Spray was purchased for the family of Lois Grote.

Comment #30115943 – February 13 2020 at 1:18 PM

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Jim and Diane Neppl purchased the Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum for the family of Lois Grote.

Jim and Diane Neppl – February 13 2020 at 3:17 PM

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