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.

Ann Rath, 90, of Carroll died Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2014 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be by Marcy Anderson and the St. Lawrence Choir. Lector will be Jill Rath. Gift Bearers will be Ann’s great-grandchildren, Krysten Rath, Jake Rath and Jenny Rath. Honorary casket bearers will be: Shelly Mohler, Robin Hinz, Tammy Zimmermann, and Heidi Pudenz. Casket bearers will be: Mike Rath, Jon Rath, Ryan Rath, Marty Rath, Terry Rath, and Harry Mohler. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, in Holy Family Cemetery near Lidderdale.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4:30 p.m. on Friday, where there will be a rosary at 5 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 p.m.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Ann’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Born on August 20, 1923 in Carroll County, Ann was the daughter of Theodore and Catherine (Hoffman) Gehling. She attended Sts. Peter and Paul School. On January 12, 1943 she was united in marriage to Herman Rath at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll. Ann was a devoted homemaker, and farm wife, being actively engaged with Herman in their grain and livestock operation. She enjoyed the outdoors, animals and tending to her great garden. Ann also enjoyed sewing, embroidering, and crocheting. Ann liked to socialize, play cards, and was always known for having coffee and cake for whoever would stop by to visit. Above all, Ann will be remembered for being a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother.

Left to celebrate her life are her children: Mary Ann Ott of Superior, Neb., and Jim Rath and his wife Marlene of Glidden; ten grandchildren, twenty-seven great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings: John (Marge) Gehling of Atlantic, Freda Barron of Niles, Mich., and Lucille Jackley of Sun City Center, Fl.; her in-laws: Irma Gehling of Carroll, Norma Jean Gehling of Carroll, and Donna Gehling of Carroll, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Herman on December 27, 2006, a son Robert Rath, son-in-law Larry Ott, her siblings: Marie Von Eschen, Frank Gehling, Leonard Gehling, Vincent Gehling, Helen Gray, and Leo Gehling.

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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I would like to offer my deepest sympathies to you. I know the pain of a broken heart. Our Heavenly Father feels our pain. Psalms 34:18 assures us that He is near to those broken at heart. He does, however, hold out a promise that in the very near future He will wipe out all tears of sorrow and pain from our eyes and death will be no more. (Revelation 21:3-5) He also promises to remember all those in the memorial tombs (graves) and restore them to life. (John 5:28,29) Until those words are fulfilled, may you find much peace and comfort in God and in His promises found in the Holy Scriptures.

Williams Family – March 20 2014 at 1:50 PM

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I am sorry to hear that Auntie Ann passed away. I have fond memories of her good cooking and visits to the farm. Gone but not forgotten. Hugs, Liz (Barron) Allen.

Liz (Barron) Allen – March 21 2014 at 6:27 AM

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Ann was such a wonderful and caring person. She was loved by everyone and we loved being told how much she loved us as well. I enjoyed our special moments together. She was a very Christian woman and her faith and family were always present in her conversations. I am so glad that we were able to take Ann on her train ride last summer to Boone and fulfilling her Bucket Wish List. She thanked me over and over that day. A day I will never forget!

Kristi Schroeder/Regency Park – March 21 2014 at 11:59 AM

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Please extend my condolences to the Family. Thank You Reese Abbe for Mutual of Omaha.

Reese Abbe – March 21 2014 at 6:04 PM

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Aunt Ann, thank you for all the wonderful childhood memories on the farm. Love, your nephew Tom

Tom Barron – March 21 2014 at 7:33 PM

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