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.

Wilbur Pudenz, age 89, of Carroll, Iowa, died Monday, April 21, 2008, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, April 26, 2008, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Mt. Carmel. The Celebrant will be Father James McAlpin. Lector will be Emily Pudenz. Gift Bearers will be Mr. Pudenz’s three children. Mass Servers will be Taylor Pudenz and Mitchell and Noah Borkowski. Organist will be Ann Pottebaum. Eucharistic Ministers will be Rita Hoebing, Kris Collison, and Marie Pudenz. Honorary Pallbearers will be grandchildren, Aaron Nieland, Adam Nieland, Emily Pudenz, Chandler Pudenz, Reggie Freese, and Samantha Freese. Casket Bearers will be Bob Pudenz, Allen Pudenz, Russ Pudenz, Greg Pudenz, Wayne Pudenz, Kelly Pudenz, Josh Pudenz, and Lynn Pudenz. Burial will be at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Mt. Carmel. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 P.M. Friday. A rosary will be prayed at 5 P.M. Friday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Friday by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or church for St. Anthony Hospital and Nursing Home. Mr. Pudenz was born on February 16, 1919, at Carroll, Iowa, the son of Frank and Mayme (Wiederin) Pudenz. He spent his lifetime in the Carroll area and attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School in Mt. Carmel. On November 15, 1958, he was married to Clarise Ortner at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. The couple spent their married life on their farm four miles north of Carroll on Highway 71. Mr. Pudenz was a long time cattle feeder and grain farmer in the Carroll area. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. Mr. Pudenz enjoyed his family, keeping up on cattle and grain markets, going to cattle sales and visiting with order buyers, and playing baseball in his younger years. Survivors include his wife, Clarise Pudenz of Carroll; children, Denise Nieland and her husband Brian of Breda, Tim Pudenz and his wife Peg of Carroll, and John Pudenz and his wife Terry of Carroll; six grandchildren; sisters, Julitta O’Tool of Auburn, Wilma Boes of Breda, Edna Knobbe of Rose Creek, Minn., and Rita Hoebing and her husband John of Columbus, Nebr.; brothers, Edwin Pudenz and his wife Leota of Carroll, Leonard Pudenz and his wife Bernice of Carroll, Richard Pudenz and his wife Bea of Carroll, and James Pudenz and his wife Mary of Carroll; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Jean Pudenz of Carroll, Sylvia Onken of Pocahontas, Marilyn and Lowell Wuebker of Carroll, Jane and Don Drees of Carroll, Leota and Melvin Borkowski of Carroll, and Marilyn Ortner of Pittsville, Wisconsin. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Dorothy O’Tool; brothers, Leroy and Herbert Pudenz; and a brother, Joseph Pudenz, 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.

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