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.

Alma Derner, age 87, of Carroll, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 A.M., Saturday, March 26, 2011, at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Timothy Johnson. The casket will be taken to the church at 8:30 A.M. Saturday to lie in state until the time of the funeral mass. Lector will be Michael Meyers. Gift Bearers will be Janet Schulte and Diane Harrison. Mass Servers will be Jacob, Nathan, and Kyle Derner. Eucharistic Ministers will be Alma’s brothers, Gene, Jim, and Don Derner. Casket Bearers will be Neil Glass, Tony Knobbe, Mike Bruning, Dale Derner, Gina Hults, Doug Derner, Margaret Quandt, and Anne Madsen. Music will be provided by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir. The Breda American Legion Auxiliary will form an honor guard at the church. Graveside Services will be at 1 P.M. Saturday at St. Bernard Cemetery in Breda. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Breda, Iowa, after 5 P.M. Friday. A rosary will be prayed at 5:30 P.M. Friday followed by a prayer service at 6:30 P.M. Friday by Holy Spirit Parish. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or church for New Hope Village or the Knights of Columbus Rosary Foundation.
Alma was born on March 7, 1924, at Auburn, Iowa, the daughter of Arthur J. and Marguerite (Grote) Derner. She attended rural school in the Auburn area and St. Bernard School in Breda. Her family moved to a farm near Breda in 1939 and she assisted families in the Breda area as a housekeeper and homemaker. Upon the death of her mother in 1947 she returned home to assist in the care of her siblings. In 1961 she became employed at the Breda News Office and following the death of her father in 1972 she moved to Carroll where she was employed in the dietary department of the Carroll Health Center Nursing Home for 24 years. From 1997 to her retirement in 2002 Alma was employed part time by the Holy Spirit School Hot Lunch Program. She was a member of Holy Spirit Parish, Parish Ladies Guild, Breda American Legion Auxiliary, and charter member of the National Catholic Society of Foresters. Alma enjoyed caring for her family, cooking, sewing, reading, volunteer work, and a good card game.
Survivors include her brothers, Gene Derner and his wife Vera of Dedham, Jim Derner and his wife Lollie of Sac City, and Don Derner and his wife Peggy of Lake View; her sisters, Mae Knobbe and her husband Mark of Carroll, Eileen Bruning of Garden Grove, Calif., Colett Meyers and her husband Bob of Lake View, Ione Schloegel of Rochester, Minn., and Annette Ratigan of Bancroft; and by many nieces, nephews, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Zeta Glass; a brother, William Derner; and by brothers-in-law, Ray Glass, Glenn Bruning, Frank Schloegel, and Bob Ratigan.

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

icon-quote
My deepest sympathy goes out to Alma's family during this difficult time. I worked with Alma when she was head cook at the Carroll Health Center. I was in high school at the time, and now in my 30's, I still recall some wonderful times working with her. She was very kind-hearted and will be missed.

Amie (Danner) Littlefield – March 25 2011 at 10:11 AM

icon-quote
Dear family of Alma Derner, May the Lord comfort you in the loss of your dear one. She was a very special & giving woman to both friends and family. In sympathy, Daphne & Dean Anderson

daphne Anderson – March 24 2011 at 2:47 PM

icon-quote
Our Thoughts and Prayers are with the Familes of Alma during this difficult time.

MARGE & DAN MILLER – March 24 2011 at 2:13 PM

Send a Personalized Message: