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.

Zelda Gross, age 91, of Mt. Carmel, Iowa, died Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at Swan House Assisted Living in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Friday, December 18, 2009, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Mt. Carmel. The Celebrant will be Father Joe Dillinger. Lectors will be granddaughters, Maggie Oleson, Jodi Jones, and Erin Lenz. Gift Bearers will be Dylan Gross, Cale Jones, and Robyn Clevenger. Mass Servers will be Taylor Pudenz and Rachel Vonnahme. Eucharistic Ministers will be Marie Pudenz, Jim Baumhover, and Kenny Nees. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of America will form an honor guard at the church. Casket Bearers will be Clint Jones, James Clevenger, Randy Lenz, Colby Oleson, Will Gross, and Mike Blazier. Burial will be at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Mt. Carmel. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. Thursday. A rosary will be prayed at 4 P.M. Thursday by the Catholic Daughters of America. There will be a Christian wake service at 6 P.M. Thursday by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. Mrs. Gross was born on April 23, 1918, at Ashton, Iowa, the daughter of John and Louise (Woerdehoff) Schoo. Her family moved to Breda in 1919 following the death of her father from the flu epidemic and she graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1935. Prior to her marriage she worked as a dental assistant for Dr. Larry Bohnenkamp in Breda. On November 8, 1943, she was married to Norbert “Nibbs” Gross at St. Bernard Church in Breda with Father Edgar Schleyer officiating. The couple farmed six miles north of Carroll. Following her husband’s death in December 1978 Zelda moved to her home in Mt. Carmel. She was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, Parish Altar Society, and 50 year member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Mrs. Gross volunteered at the New Hope Village Store, St. Anthony Hospital coffee shop, and for 14 years at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School Library. In 1987 she received the Governor’s Volunteer Award. Zelda enjoyed her family, traveling, and making ceramics. Survivors include her son, Jon Gross and his wife Betty of Maple Grove, Minn.; her daughter, Deann Buddin and her husband Russ of Palmer; grandchildren, Rachael Garcia and her husband Javier of Aurora, Ill., Maggie Oleson and her husband Colby of Mahomet, Ill., Jodi Jones and her husband Clint of West Des Moines, Erin Lenz and her husband Randy of Carroll, Will Gross of Princeton, Ill., Robyn Clevenger and her husband James of West Des Moines, Mike Blazier and his wife Shiao-Li of Naperville, Ill., Lisa Mingone and her husband Mark of Nashville, Tenn., and Brian Blazier of Wayzata, Minn.; and fourteen great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Norbert “Nibbs” Gross, in December 1978; by her parents; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Louise and Ollie Kanne, Sister Mynette Gross F.S.P.A., Ray and Marce Gross, Florence and Albert Schapman, Paul Gross, Rita and Arnold Meyer, and Mae and Herbert Pudenz.

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

No comments

Send a Personalized Message: