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.

Gladys Nieland, age 90, of Breda, died Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at Hansen House in Harlan, Iowa.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, September 9, 2023 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be by Jane Heithoff. Lectors will be Amanda Scherer, and Samantha Kruse. Gift Bearers will be Gladys’ great-grandchildren: Leo, Alex, Tanner, and Emma. Casket Bearers will be Corey Gramowski, Cody Bahrke, Brett Gubbels, Aaron Nickman, Kevin Kruse, and Brandon Scherer. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The Breda Legion Auxiliary will form and honor guard for the funeral mass.

Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday at St. Bernard’s Church in Breda. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7p.m. Additional viewing without greeting the family will be held at the church from 9-9:45 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Gladys family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Gladys was born on February 23, 1933 in Carroll County, Iowa, the daughter of Peter and Teresa (Goecke) Oswald. She graduated from St. Bernard’s High School.

On February 12, 1955 she was united in marriage to Norman Nieland at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda; to this union three daughters were born. The couple made their home south of Breda where they were engaged in grain and livestock farming. In addition to being a devoted homemaker and farmwife, she worked as a C.N.A. and a telephone operator. They moved into Breda in 1996. She later moved to Garden View in Carroll. After declining health due to Dementia, Gladys moved to Hansen House in Harlan.

Gladys enjoyed traveling especially her favorites Okoboji and Europe, keeping an immaculate home, quilting, and participating in St. Bernard’s Dinner Theaters. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Her house was always open and welcoming to anyone. She was a member of St. Bernard’s Parish, Red Hat Ladies, Card Club, Christian Mothers, Order of Foresters, Breda American Legion Auxiliary.

Gladys is survived by her daughters: Cindy (John) Wilson of Breda, Brenda (Bill) Bahrke of Neola, and Sharon (Glen) Gubbels of Harlan; her grandchildren: Corey (Kari) Gramowski of Emmetsburg, Laura (Aaron) Nickman of Council Bluffs, Amanda (Brandon) Scherer of Neola, Cody (Erin) Bahrke of Laguna Nigel, CA, Samantha (Kevin) Kruse of Redfield, and Brett Gubbels of Harlan; eleven great-grandchildren: Alex, Tanner, and Emma Gramowski, Leo, Maizie, and Charlie Nickman; Blake, Brock, and Ava Scherer, Quinn and Harrison Kruse; her siblings: Marge (Robert) Tigges of Carroll, and Leon (Florence) Oswald; sisters-in-law: Virginia Oswald of North Platte, NE; Marita Bruning of Carroll; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

Gladys was preceded in death by her husband, Norm in 2014, granddaughter Megan in 2019; her parents, Peter and Teresa; siblings: Rita Reicks, Maizie Soyer, Dorothy Vogl, Lola Heim, Arthur, Paul, Charlie, Bill, and Lou Oswald.

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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A Memorial Tree was planted in honor of Gladys Nieland.

Comment #47148741 – September 07 2023 at 10:34 AM

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Divine Peace Bouquet was purchased for the family of Gladys Nieland.

Comment #47156042 – September 08 2023 at 11:27 AM

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Mark Reicks planted a Memorial Tree in honor of Gladys Nieland.

Mark Reicks – September 08 2023 at 9:02 AM

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Mark Reicks purchased the Emerald Garden Basket for the family of Gladys Nieland.

Mark Reicks – September 08 2023 at 9:02 AM

icon-quote
A Memorial Tree was planted in honor of Gladys Nieland.

Comment #47153970 – September 07 2023 at 9:27 PM

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