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.

Leroy Vonnahme, 86 of Arcadia, died Saturday, August 24, 2013 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia. The celebrant will be Fr. Gary Snyder. Con-Celebrants will be: Fr. Richard Remmes, Fr. John Thomas, Fr. William Schreiber, and Fr. Clair Boes. Music will be by Darlene Leiting and the St. John’s Choir. Mass servers will be Leroy’s grandchildren: Luke Schulte and Noah Schulte. Lectors will be Leroy’s grandchildren: Ashten Vonnahme, Kerry Lengeling, Rachel Kitt, and Julie Podey. Gift Bearers will be Leroy’s grandchildren: Kyle Julin and Krystal Schulte, Casketbearers will be Leroy’s grandchildren: Jason Vonnahme, Mike Bierl, Aaron Vonnahme, Dan Julin, Jeff Bierl, and Leroy Schulte. The Arcadia American Legion will form an honor guard for the funeral mass. Burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery, Arcadia with military honors conducted by the Arcadia American Legion.

Friends may call at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia after 3:30 p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2013 where there will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 4 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service by St. John’s Parish at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the church to be directed to St. John’s Catholic Church.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. Online condolences may be left for Leroy’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Leroy Henry Vonnahme was born on May 14, 1927 in Arcadia, the son of John and Leona (Otto) Vonnahme. He grew up on the family farm west of Arcadia. He attended St. John’s Catholic School and Arcadia High School. Following his school years Leroy enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving from 1946 to 1949. Upon returning to the area he worked for H.F. Schroeder Construction, and then he started his own dozer company, Leroy’s Dozer Service. On October 9, 1951 he was united in marriage to Norma Jean Wolterman at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia, by Father Stork. Leroy was a member of the Arcadia American Legion, Woodman of the World, Knights of Columbus, and St. John’s Parish. Over the years he enjoyed fishing, bowling, golf, playing cards, and slow pitch softball, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Leroy is survived by his wife of 61 years Norma Jean of Arcadia, his children, Allen (Diane) Vonnahme of Arcadia, Bruce (Mae) Vonnahme of Arcadia, Sharon (Ron) Bierl of Westside, Linda (Steve) Julin of Arcadia, Joyce (Dale) Bierl of Arcadia, and Ann (Pete) Schulte of Carroll; 25 grandchildren, 32 great grandchildren; siblings: Alice Schmitz of Arcadia, Vera Booth of Des Moines, Gladys Steinkamp of Arcadia, and Lyle (Lorraine) Vonnahme of Carroll; In-laws: Bob (Shirl) Wolterman of Mesa, Az., Arden (Betty) Wolterman of Lexington, Ky., Milo (Mary) Wolterman of Arcadia, Betty Moore of Norwalk, and Larry (Deanne) Wolterman of Carroll.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Adam Julin; great grandson Chance Julin; brothers: Leon Vonnahme, and Duane Vonnahme; in-laws: Vincent and Frances Wolterman, Connie Wolterman, Jerry Moore, Roland Booth, Leo Schmitz, and Loren Steinkamp.

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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My prayers are with the Vonnahme family. Uncle Leroy was the best uncle anyone could have. Loving and caring. Will be missed. RIP Uncle Leroy!! Michele and Dave Darrah

Michele Darrah – August 24 2013 at 11:57 AM

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Norma & family : to know Leroy was to love him,and to those who knew & loved him ,his memory will never grow old. He lives with all of you in memory & will for evermore ..RIP LEROY.....

Berdell & Marilyn Jeschke – August 25 2013 at 5:25 PM

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Norma & family : to know Leroy was to love him,and to those who knew & loved him ,his memory will never grow old. He lives with all of you in memory & will for evermore ..RIP LEROY.....

Berdell & Marilyn Jeschke – August 25 2013 at 5:25 PM

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Norma, & Family, Sorry I will miss the funeral and wake. We will never forget Leroy. What a great fun loving guy. Hope everyone is doing well. Thinking of you all. Larry Boeckman

Larry Boeckman – August 26 2013 at 12:32 PM

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So sorry for your loss! Thinking of you all in the coming days and sending strength and prayers your way. Carla Morrow

Carla Morrow – August 27 2013 at 10:17 AM

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