Ambrose J. Schwarzkopf

12/20/1922 –

06/15/2012

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.

Ambrose Schwarzkopf, age 89 of Breda, died Friday, June 15, 2012, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2012, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Fr. Clair Boes. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Joe Dillinger. Music will be by Marilyn Hundling, soloist Lori Miller and the St. Bernard’s Choir. Lector for the funeral mass will be Bob Schwarzkopf. Gift Bearers will be Brett Schwarzkopf, Matt Schwarzkopf, Rex Mahoney and Luke Mahoney. Eucharistic Ministers will be: Bill Coulter, Madonna Boeckman, and Joan Heiman. Casket Bearers will be: Dan Reis, Don Gerken, Clair Snyder, Roger Ludwig, Dick Steinkamp, and Tom Wittry. Burial will be at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Breda with military honors conducted by the Breda American Legion.
Friends may call at St. Bernard’s Church in Breda after 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday where there will be a rosary at 5 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. Memorials may be left at the church for the St. Anthony Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Breda and online condolences may be left for A.J.’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on December 20, 1922, at Wall Lake, Iowa, Ambrose Joseph was the son of Philip and Anna (Wenzel) Schwarzkopf. He spent his childhood on the family farm near Wall Lake and attended St. Bernard’s School in Breda, graduating with the Class of 1940. Following his formal education A.J. served in the United States Navy and after his honorable discharge returned to the Wall Lake area. On November 4, 1946, he married Ruth Vonnahme at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Mt. Carmel. A.J. and Ruth made their home west of Breda where he was a grain and livestock farmer and also spent much of his working career as a cattle order buyer. In the spring of 1989 they moved off the farm and built a new home in Breda. A.J. and Ruth enjoyed their winters in Sun City West, Arizona. He loved his family (especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren) and also enjoyed golfing and playing cards. In December of 2011, as his health began to fail, he became a resident of St. Anthony Nursing Home where he died on Friday, June 15, 2012, at the age of 89. A.J. was a member of the Breda American Legion and St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Ruth Schwarzkopf of Breda; his children: Bob (Mikki) Schwarzkopf of Jefferson, Peggy (Jim) Threadgill of Parker, TX, Joan (Reeves) Mahoney of Norfolk, VA, Tom (Pat) Schwarzkopf of Breda, Deb (Bill) Coulter of Omaha, NE, and Lori (Marc) Miller of Seattle, WA; 11 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lucy Brooks of Chicago, IL; one brother, Philip “Chick” (Betty) Schwarzkopf of Adel; his sisters-in-law: Angie Schwarzkopf of Carroll, Catherine Schwarzkopf of Milwaukee, WI, and Joan Heiman of Jefferson; as well as other extended relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Leonilla and Rita Schwarzkopf; and his brothers: Bernard, Joseph, Gene and Ed Schwarzkopf.

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

Dear Joan and family, Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your Dad. I really didn't know your Dad when we were in High School except as Mr. Schwarzkopf. However, during one of my plane trips from Omaha to Kansas City, he happened to be seated next to me. After we exchanged brief hellos, he began to question me and it seemed he knew quite a bit about me. He finally disclosed how he knew me and we laughed about the small world in which we lived. He was a very nice man and I'm sure, a wonderful father. The world will feel the loss. May your memories fill the void his passing has left. Always, Mary Lou

Mary Lou Kennebeck Hart – June 21 2012 at 12:49 PM

Deb, Bill and family, Our sincere sympathy and prayers go out to you and your family for the loss of your father.

Cndy & Paul Edmunds – June 20 2012 at 8:54 AM

Tom and family, We are so sorry,to hear of the loss of your father. It's hard to know just what to say, there are no words that can truly comfort you. I hope the memories of the his laughter and love you shared will bring you peace now and always. Jen, tells me that her grandfather lived a good life. Our thoughts and prays are with you and all of your family. The Brockway family

Betty Brockway – June 19 2012 at 11:37 AM

Ruth & family: Thinking of you and remembering AJ as an amazing person. We could not have asked for better "backyard neighbors".

Judy & Bill Peoples – June 19 2012 at 10:29 AM

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family during this difficult time. Only meeting your dad in person a couple of times, it really felt like we had known him for years. Just in the few meetings it was so very clear to us how proud he was of you Deb and all of his children. It is so beautiful to know that he is now with the dear Lord and is at peace with him. May his memories fill your hearts with joy for the upcoming days as I know that is what he would want for all of you. God Bless!

Scott, Deb, Jaclyn, Joe, John & Jordyn Wieczorek – June 19 2012 at 9:56 AM

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