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.

Dale Matthew Wittry, 94 of Carroll, passed away on Tuesday, July 9th at St. Anthony’s Nursing Home in Carroll surrounded by loved ones.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Concelebrant will be Fr. Gary Snyder. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Kathleen Macke. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Amanda Westrum, Caryn Wittry, and Allison Warnke. Gift Bearers will be Dale’s granddaughters. Eucharistic Minister will be Judy Wagner. Honorary Casket Bearers and Casket Bearers will be Dale’s grandsons. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Breda American Legion.

A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to the church on Tuesday 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 Dale’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Dale was born on January 6, 1930, in Carroll to Bernard and Magdalene (Snyder) Wittry. He graduated from St. Bernard’s High School in Breda.

Dale was a wireman in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1952-1953. He was honorably discharged as a corporal, and later was a member of the Breda American Legion Post 607.
Dale married the love of his life, Catherine (Baumhover) Wittry, on January 21, 1954, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. He and Catherine farmed near Breda until 1973, when they moved to Carroll. He worked at General Electric for twenty years before retiring in 1995.

Dale was a musician who played many musical instruments, most notably the accordion and bass guitar. He performed in local bands, such as the Jolly Home Brewers and the Reflections. Following retirement, he enjoyed playing the piano and the accordion on the nursing home circuit throughout western Iowa. He also played piano for his home parish of St. Lawrence in Carroll. He enjoyed assembling puzzles and playing cards with family and friends. Scrabble games were a nightly event for Dale and Catherine. Dale’s other hobbies included photography, genealogy, and woodworking.

Dale is survived by his wife, Catherine, and 10 children; Mary Jo Wittry of St. Louis, Sandy (Jeff) Cayler of Omaha, Dean (Monica) Wittry of Urbandale, Janet (Dennis) Dietrich of Mt. Vernon, Susan (Steve) Nuetzman of Wall Lake, Richard (Becky) Wittry of Indianola, Mark (Michelle) Wittry of Dubuque, Margaret (Kevin) Anderson of Kansas City, Judy (Paul) Wagner of Carroll, Timothy (Ann) Wittry of West Des Moines, 21 grandchildren, and 26 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother John (Marceal) Wittry; brothers-in-law Gerald (Alice) Baumhover, Charles (Jean) Baumhover, Steven (Norma) Baumhover; and sisters-in-law Joan Wittry, Jane Wittry and Annette Baumhover.

Dale was preceded in death by his daughter Ann in infancy; his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Rose and Bernard Baumhover; a sister, Della Nieland; brothers Eugene, Romayne, and Kenneth Wittry; brothers-in-law Pat Nieland, William Baumhover, and Paul Baumhover; and grandchildren, John Foster Mason and Anna Louise Mason.

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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Joe Kloser & family purchased the Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum for the family of Dale Wittry.

Joe Kloser & family – July 12 2024 at 12:59 AM

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Dreams From the Heart Bouquet was purchased for the family of Dale Wittry.

Comment #50255870 – July 15 2024 at 2:33 PM

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Nyemaster Goode paralegals planted a Memorial Tree in honor of Dale Wittry.

Nyemaster Goode paralegals – July 15 2024 at 7:31 AM

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Emerald Garden Basket was purchased for the family of Dale Wittry.

Comment #50254296 – July 15 2024 at 7:31 AM

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Serene Retreat was purchased for the family of Dale Wittry.

Comment #50252452 – July 14 2024 at 1:26 PM

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