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.

Dean Lawrence Ludwig, 81 of rural Lake City, died Monday, May 9, 2022, at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, 2022, at Holy Spirit Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Concelebrant will be Fr. Craig Collison. Mass servers will be Maximus Hardy and Anna Berns. Music will be by Kathy Halbur, Derrik Bauer, and Stephanie Berns. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Michael Hardy. Gift Bearers will be Emma Reis, Megan Hardy and Mariah Hardy. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Maximus Hardy and Brody Reis. Casket Bearers will be Alex Cornelius, Brandon Cornelius, Nolan Ford, Clayton Reis, Tyler Reis and Matthew Hardy. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Holy Family Cemetery near Lidderdale with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9-9:45 a.m. on Saturday at the church.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Dean’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on October 8th, 1940, in Lake City, Iowa Dean was the son of Arnold and Rose (Boes) Ludwig. He attended Kuemper High School in Carroll, Iowa and graduated in 1959. Dean served in the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965 and was stationed at Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska, where he survived the earthquake of 1964. After his honorable discharge from the Army, he returned to the family farm. On March 3, 1973, Dean was married to Diana (Kirsch) Pletchette at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll, Iowa. They lived on a farm six miles south of Lake City, where he farmed the Ludwig Family ground and his own farm. Diane passed away on February 16, 1980, leaving Dean to raise his four daughters on his own.
In his spare time Dean enjoyed buying and selling items at auctions and garage sales with his brothers. He was a collector of antique toys and miscellaneous items. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeye fan. He loved watching westerns. He enjoyed playing cards with his siblings and even participated in Euchre tournaments. Dean loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was also a master fisherman with his proudest moment being the time caught his biggest fish, an enormous catfish of 49 pounds on an 8 lb. test line out of a pond. Dean was a former member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Lidderdale, Iowa. In 2017, Dean retired from farming and moved to Swan Place in Carroll and then to Journey Senior Services in Carroll.
Surviving are his four daughters: Susan (Dan) Cornelius of Lake City, Rhonda Ford (Dwane Bolton) of Rockwell City, Christine (Michael) Hardy of Lohrville, Brenda (Brian) Reis of Rolfe; his thirteen grandchildren: Alex (Jessica Peters), Brandon (Megan), Jessica, and Zoe Cornelius, Nolan Ford, Megan (fiancé Colin Corey), Mariah, Matthew and Maximus Hardy, Clayton, Tyler, Emma and Brody Reis; five great-grandchildren; his two brothers: Eldon (Deborah) Ludwig of Carroll, James (Dee) Ludwig of Carroll; his four sisters: LouAnn (James) Klocke of Edgewood, Washington, Karen (Steve) Goins of Yetter, Judy (John) Strunk of Carroll, Mary Jo (Mark) Bauer of Jefferson; his brothers-in-law and sisters in-laws: Andy Kirsch, Duane (Betty) Kirsch, Monica (Norm) Nellesen, Virgil (Peggy) Kirsch, Lucy Kirsch and Lloyd Drees; as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Diane; his parents, Arnold and Rose Ludwig; his in-laws, Andrew and Leona Kirsch; a granddaughter, MacKenzie Ford; a sister, Dorene Ludwig; his sisters-in-laws: Janice Klocke, Mary Ann Kirsch, Shirley Kirsch and Mercedes Drees; his brothers-in-laws Art Kirsch, Jerome Kirsch and LeRoy Klocke, two nephews: Benjamin and Shane Ludwig.

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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Our deepest sympathies to all of Dean's family! You will be in our prayers!! Keith & Rachel Naughton

Rachel – May 10 2022 at 2:40 PM

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To all of Deans family I extend my sympathy. We will be attending grandchildren’s college graduations this weekend so I am sorry I will not be there for any services. It’s been so long, probably at your Mother’s funeral, since I’ve seen the cousins, Rosie’s kids. Again, offering my sympathy! Carol Boes Stark

Carol Stark – May 10 2022 at 9:15 PM

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Verry sorry to hear of Dean's passing, he was always pleasant to be around, our condolences and prayers to the family

Kevin McCaulley – May 21 2022 at 8:14 AM

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Lit a candle in memory of Dean Ludwig

Cheryl Rosen – May 12 2022 at 12:22 AM

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Emerald Garden Basket was purchased for the family of Dean Ludwig.

Comment #37210608 – May 10 2022 at 2:23 PM

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