Clarence J. Fischer

06/30/1919 –

10/16/2013

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.

Clarence Fischer, 94, of rural Dedham, died early Wednesday morning at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2013 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dedham. The Celebrant will be Fr. Andrew Hoffmann, assisted by Deacon Louis Meiners. Music will be by Faye Seidl and the St. Joseph’s Choir. Lectors for the funeral mass will be Dennis Fischer and Gene Tranel. Gift Bearers will be Clarence’s granddaughters. Eucharistic Ministers will be Donna Ankenbauer and Gene Derner. Casket Bearers will be Clarence’s grandsons: Jeremy Fath, Phillip Tranel, Christopher Tranel, Chad Odland, and Craig Fischer; and Clarence’s great grandson, Ryan Wilson. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dedham. Military honors will be conducted by the Dedham American Legion and the Audubon V.F.W.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 p.m. Friday, where there will be a rosary at 4 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service by St. Joseph’s Parish at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Joseph’s Church at 9 a.m. Saturday morning where visitation will resume until the time of the funeral mass.

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

Clarence Joseph Fischer was born on June 30, 1919 at Templeton, Iowa, the son of Frank and Katie (Bierl) Fischer. He spent his early years in the Templeton area, attending school at Holy Angels in Roselle, then Sacred Heart School in Templeton. Clarence served in the United States Army during World War II until his honorable discharge in October of 1945. While in the military on April 18, 1944 he married Agatha Dentlinger at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur. The couple lived in Louisiana for a brief time and then returned to the Templeton and Willey area. Since 1950 the couple had lived on their farm south of Dedham with the exception of three years in which they owned and operated a supper club in Oskaloosa. Clarence was a grain and livestock farmer his entire life and also enjoyed woodworking. In 2008 following the sudden passing of his wife Agatha, Clarence became a resident of St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham, Dedham American Legion, Audubon V.F.W. and was also active with the REC Board for many years.

Survivors include his children: Dennis (Elaine) Fischer of Boise, ID, Daryl “Dual” (Mary Ellen) Fischer of Audubon, Denise Odland of Johnston, Diane Fath of Des Moines, and Debra (Gene) Tranel of Washington, IL; 13 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; his sisters: Catherine Pelfresne of Michigan, Mary Dentlinger of Audubon, and Dorothy (Frank) Youngblood of Washington State; his brothers: Otmar (Colette) Fischer of Algona and Leonard Fischer of Carroll; his in-laws: Gladys Halbur of Halbur, Jeanette Venner of Carroll, Jim (Rita) Dentlinger of Glidden and Elaine Dentlinger of Carroll; as well as other extended relatives.

Clarence was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Agatha in 2008; his son-in-law, Ronald Odland; his sisters: Hilda Steffes and Rita Ferden; and his brother John Fischer.

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

To the uncle family whom I made him laugh by telling him I'd have him arrested for speeding through Auburn while I headshot. My sympathy to all my cousins and their families and to his sister s and brothers.

Linda Beidler – October 16 2013 at 4:13 PM

Our sympathy for the surviving family members and brothers and sisters of Uncle Clarence. I remember visiting Aunt Agatha and Uncle Clarence's farm as a kid and being very impressed by the cattle and Aunt Agatha's cooking. May they both rest in peace. John and Linda Stegeman (Pelfresne)

Linda Stegeman – October 18 2013 at 11:28 AM

I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are never alone. You can find much comfort in the Holy Scriptures which assures us at Psalms 34:18 that God is near to those broken at heart and crushed in spirit. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

S Ford – October 19 2013 at 6:47 PM

Truly Beloved Bouquet was purchased for the family of Clarence J. Fischer.

Comment #8651054 – October 16 2013 at 9:20 PM

Obituaries