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.

Rosina O’Tool, age 92, of Carroll, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 22, 2010, at the Carroll Health Center Nursing Home in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, September 25, 2010, at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Timothy Johnson, assisted by Mrs. O’Tool’s son, Deacon Joseph O’Tool. The casket will be taken to the church at 8:30 A.M. Saturday to lie in state until the time of the funeral mass. Lectors will be Kathleen McCarty and Faith Laboy. Gift Bearers will be Kristine Collins, Laura Martel, and Lisa Matson. Mass Servers will be Craig Matson and Kevin Collins. Eucharistic Ministers will be Laura Martel and Lisa Matson. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of America will form an honor guard at the church. Casket Bearers will be Pat O’Tool, Shaun O’Tool, Jeff O’Tool, Craig O’Tool, Tony O’Tool, Andrew O’Tool, and Ron O’Tool. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. Friday. A rosary will be prayed at 4 P.M. Friday by the Carroll Catholic Daughters of America. There will be a Christian wake service at 6:30 P.M. Friday by Holy Spirit Parish. Rosina was born on July 3, 1918, at Breda, Iowa, the daughter of Max and Clara (Boes) Reising. She attended St. Bernard School at Breda. On June 28, 1938, she was married to Wilmer O’Tool at St. Bernard Church in Breda. The couple farmed in the Auburn area and in 1954 moved to Carroll. Rosina had been employed for five years at the former Lee’s Department Store in Carroll. She was a member of Holy Spirit Parish, Parish Ladies Guild, Catholic Daughters of America, Rosary Makers Club, and the Golden Circle. Rosina was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker. She enjoyed visiting with family and friends, playing cards, making rosaries for the missions, and making afgans for family and friends. Survivors include her children, Arlen O’Tool of Bayard, Richard O’Tool of Carroll, Marvagene Louis of Colorado Springs, Colo., Clara Fiebelkorn of Carroll, Joseph O’Tool and wife Jolene of Alpha, Illinois, Jeanette Bolster and husband Francis of Auburn, Mary Scott and husband Tom of Ames, Ralph O’Tool and wife Janie of Malvern, Elizabeth O’Tool and special friend Warren Mosler of St. Croix, Virgin Islands, Barbara Karstens and husband Marvin of Bryon, Texas, Frank O’Tool and wife Maggie of Carroll, Jane Ann Podewils and husband Larry of Carnarvon, Jim O’Tool of Carroll, and Daniel O’Tool and wife Merlyn of Houston, Texas; 51 grandchildren; 87 great grandchildren; 3 great great grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Alvira Tifenthaler of Carroll, Bernice O’Tool of Ida Grove, Iola Muhlbauer of Manning, and Rose Marie McAlister of Bayard. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilmer O’Tool, in December 1959; her parents; her sons, Daryl O’Tool and Stanley O’Tool; grandchildren, Karl Winkler, Ryan O’Tool, and Kevin O’Tool; brothers, Andrew Reising, Greg Reising, Msgr. Zeno Reising, Alvin Reising, Lawrence Reising, Conrad Reising, and Michael Reising; sisters, Amelia Becker, Leona Eischeid, and Bernice Pudenz; her sons-in-law, Larry Louis and Art Fiebelkorn; daughters-in-law, Sara O’Tool and Barbara O’Tool; and by her parents-in-law, Peter and Barbara O’Tool.

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 thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.

Laurie Christianson – September 24 2010 at 7:22 PM

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To all the O'Tool Family, We are so sorry for your loss and will be keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. With much love, Ruth & Michael Murphy

Ruth Murphy – September 24 2010 at 12:38 PM

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Sorry we cannot be there for the service. She was a GREAT lady and one to be admired by all.

Gary & Terri Engel – September 24 2010 at 11:47 AM

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Thank you, Rosina, for your friendship over the years. We will all miss you.

Pam Murphy – September 24 2010 at 11:10 AM

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RIP Grandma! Thank you for all that you have taught us through your actions and words of wisdom. You will be greatly missed but loved forever. I love you Grandma!!!!!!!!!

Becky O’Tool Bianchi – September 23 2010 at 7:12 PM

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