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.

Janet Gehling, age 63 of Carroll, Iowa died Saturday, October 22, 2011 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Tuesday, October 25, 2011 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Dale Reiff. Mass Servers will be Janet’s Granddaughters, Chantal and Emily St.Peter. Lectors for the funeral mass will be Janet’s sister, Jennifer Peterson, and Janet’s niece, Julie Steinkamp. Gift Bearers will be Janet’s niece and nephew, Kaitlin and David Peterson. Eucharistic Ministers will be Janet’s sister, Jennifer Peterson, and Janet’s aunt, Bonnie Danner. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Janet’s brother’s in-law: Larry, David, and Phil Gehling, Janet’s nephew, Doug Danner, and Janet’s cousins, Larry and David Reiff. Casket Bearers will be Janet’s Grandsons, Jon Moore and Chris St.Peter, and Janet’s nephews: Jason Sibenaller, Jerry Danner, Ron Gehling, and Pat Gehling. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4:30 p.m. on Monday where there will be a rosary at 5 p.m., followed by a Christian Wake Service by St. Lawrence Parish at 7 p.m.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for the St. Lawrence Second Century Campaign. Online condolences may be left for Janet’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on July 17, 1948 at Carroll, Iowa, Janet was the daughter of Paul Joseph and Anna Mae (Sanders) Danner. She spent her entire lifetime in the Carroll community and attended St. Lawrence Grade School and Kuemper High School, graduating in 1966. Following her formal education she worked at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in the Pathology Department as a secretary, and later worked as a bookkeeper for Juergens Produce and Feed. On February 8, 1969 she married Bill Gehling at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. For most of her lifetime she provided in home daycare, and also most recently worked at the Carroll Health Center as a concierge. Janet enjoyed baking, cooking, was devoted to her faith, her family, and loved attending her grandchildren’s activities. She was a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband Bill of Carroll; her children: Paul Gehling and his wife Tracy of Scranton, Debra St.Peter and her husband Jeff of Carroll, Carolyn Best and her fiance Justin Groff of Omaha, NE, and Katie DeWeese and her husband Heath of Coralville; 15 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one brother, Dennis (Laura) Danner of Carroll; one sister, Jennifer (Michael) Peterson of Ankeny; her brothers in-law and sisters in-law: Richard Sibenaller of Glidden, Larry (Mary Lou) Gehling of Westside, David (Eileen) Gehling of Wall Lake, Phil (Jane) Gehling of Vail, Dorothy Hoffman of Dedham, Marceal (John) Wittry of Breda, and Alita Lansink of Odebolt, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Christine Ann Gehling and Joan Marie Gehling in infancy; her sister, Joyce Sibenaller, and six sisters, all in infancy.

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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I want to express my deepest sympathyies to Katie and the rest of the family. My prayers and condolences are with you and the whole family. Stay Strong. I will never forget the fun times me and Katie had in High School. After all she is the one that nicknamed me Cuzi!!!! Stay Strong Katie. I'm Proud of You and I know u will make it through this. Jacki Meiners

Jacki Meiners – October 25 2011 at 10:40 AM

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My thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of sorrow and loss. Though we feel her loss, Heaven has a new angel .. God Bless!

DeLynne Wiederien Clausen – October 23 2011 at 10:12 PM

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To Bill: I'm so very sorry for the loss of your beloved wife, Janet. She put up a great fight! To Paul & family, Deb & family, Carolyn & family & Katie & family: My heart aches for all of you! I hope you find some comfort in knowing your mom is no longer suffering! To dad and mom and Jenny & family: I have always believed that "God only takes the very best!" I am so sorry. And the loved ones of my aunt Janet: I will miss her and I loved her very much! God's Blessings.

Beth Danner – October 23 2011 at 6:53 PM

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Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. We've always felt blessed that Blake was part of a large and loving family. May God bless you and give you comfort.

Darla and Brent Vander Weil, Mady and Blake – October 22 2011 at 11:34 PM

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