Bernard “Gene” E. Darveau

12/28/1928 –

02/03/2013

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.

Bernard Darveau, 84 of Carroll, died on Sunday, February 3, 2013 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
A funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m. Friday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir. Lectors will be: Theresa Vogts and Sarah Wegmueller. Gift Bearers will be: Nicole Johnson, Elisabeth Danner, Jill Blunk, Theresa Vogts, Yvette Darveau, Sarah Wegmueller, Christina Carter, Jessica Oppermann, and Madeline Darveau. Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Damian Darveau, Jacob Shields, Robert Wegmueller, Justin Wegmueller, Anthony Darveau, Charles Darveau, and Henry Darveau. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion. The St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.
Gene’s family will greet friends beginning at 9 a.m. Friday at Holy Spirit Church until time of the funeral mass.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Carroll V.F.W.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll.
A son of Louis Eugene and Dorothy (Liberty) Darveau, he was born December 28, 1928, in Rulo, Nebraska and attended graduated from Sacred Heart School. Gene served in the United States Army from 1948 – 1951 and served in the Korean War until his honorable discharge.
On Nov. 8, 1952, he married Patricia M. Dramann at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Kansas City, Kansas. The couple lived in Kansas City, Fremont, Nebraska and Marne, Iowa before moving to Carroll in 1969. In 1974, they moved to Ames and then Omaha, Neb., returning to Carroll in 1980.
Early career work included driving a car-transport rig followed by 21 years working for Singer Sewing Company as salesman and as store manager, managing the Singer Store on Adams Street from 1969 to 1974. When the opportunity arose, Gene returned his family to Carroll in 1980 where he owned and operated Carroll Sewing Center until his retirement in 2000. In addition to his love of fishing and woodworking, Gene continued his tinkering with sewing machine repairs until 2011 and volunteered with the St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary. He enjoyed his family and coffee gathering with his friends. Gene was a member of Carroll American Legion and V.F.W., Holy Spirit Parish and St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include his children: Deborah Johnson and husband Ken of Carroll, Cathleen Simpson of Windsor Heights, IA, Michele Shields and husband Terry of Spencer, Beatrice Wegmueller and husband John of Athens, Wis., Thomas Darveau and wife Holly of Manning and John Darveau and wife Sandy of West Des Moines; his daughter-in-law, Jeanne Darveau of Dayton, MN; 16 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sisters: Mary Chevalier, Kansas City, MO, Leona Knobbe & husband Bill, Falls City, NE, Veronica Reiger and husband Paul, Sheridan, WY., along with many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Darveau was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Darveau, his son, Dennis Darveau, his parents; a brother, Charles Darveau, a son-in-law, Bill Simpson; and granddaughters: Rachel Ann Darveau and Stephanie Marie Darveau.

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.

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Tribute Wall

My thoughts and prayers are w/all of you. I have such wonderful memories of your dad and your family from Marne. I hope the beautiful memories you have of him will help you during this difficult time.

Kim Reason McEachern – February 14 2013 at 1:39 PM

Obituaries