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.

Tanner Nieland, 32 of Auburn, passed away tragically, Thursday, December 12, 2024.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, December 19, 2024 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Brian Feller assisted by Deacon Bob Lenz. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Sherry Loughran. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Randy Nieland and Joe Balk. Gift Bearers will be Tanner’s cousins. Casket Bearers will be Jamie Nieland, Kevin Nieland, Jake Mann, Brandon Balk, Addison Ross, Dayton Ross, and Cooper Ross. Private family burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Auburn.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll from 5-7 p.m. with a sharing of memories at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m. on Thursday at the church.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Tanner’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Tanner was an outstanding CoreMark (Farner-Bocken) employee for over 14 years. He enjoyed his job and considered his co-workers as his second family. He was always smiling with his generous spirit and funny personality.

He loved living on the farm with his dad and taking care of his cats. He was a life-long fan of the New York Yankees and enjoyed watching the games and cheering them on with his dad. Another past time he shared with his dad was working out at the gym and he was getting stronger each day.

He spent the weekends with his mom and enjoyed her cooking. He always asked for her pork steak and baked potatoes. They watched countless hours of movies and tv shows especially crime and sci-fi shows.

Some of his biggest achievements are graduating from Kuemper Catholic High School in 2011 and achieving a Liberal Arts Degree from DMACC in Carroll. His most widely known talents were video games like Guitar Hero and Pokémon. He was known as a legacy in the Guitar Hero community, and as one of the best players throughout the entire world. Tanner was innovative, passionate, helpful to other players, and most of all, an integral part of building these communities online.

The most important part of his life was his family. His dad, his mom, his sister Mikayla and her husband Ethan and their kids Charlie and Harrison, and his sister Tia. They were his whole world. He loved family gatherings with his grandma, all his aunts and uncles, and his cousins. He brought so much laughter and love to the people around him. His joyous personality gave us all so many smiles and happiness, from childhood until his last day. He was a humble, gracious, and kind young man to all he encountered. He never complained a day in his life, and we will treasure the time we had with Tanner. He was one of a kind and will forever be missed. We love you, rest in peace.

Fly high @Tanman1234543.

Tanner was preceded in death by his grandparents, Arnold & Germaine Nieland, LeRoy Balk, his uncle Randy Balk, his aunt Dianne Nieland, and his cousin Grace Mann.

Tanner is survived by his mother Laurie Nieland, his father Donald Nieland, his sister Mikayla Schoeppner and her husband Ethan Schoeppner, their kids and his nephews Charlie and Harrison Schoeppner, and his sister Tia Nieland and her boyfriend Ethan Ausburn; his grandmother Judy Balk, his aunts and uncles, and his cousins on both the Balk and Nieland sides of the family.

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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Sympathy to the family of Tanner. May God give you strength at this time. Rest in peace Tanner.

Wilbur & Karen Triplett – December 17 2024 at 9:36 AM

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I wasn't close to Tanner and I only knew him fleetingly, but it was clear he had a good heart. His light shone bright and he had a genuine innocence that was to be admired. My heart aches for him, his family, and his friends (human and animal).

Ryan – December 15 2024 at 5:16 PM

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Made a watercolor painting of him. May he find peace

Avon – December 15 2024 at 10:29 PM

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Pains me to see you've gone, but you'll always be here in the memories of many, Tanman.

Acrox – December 16 2024 at 9:08 AM

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Rest in peace, legend. Life is so unfair.

Goldi – December 16 2024 at 12:22 PM

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