Dennis L. Niceswanger

10/27/1924 –

05/27/2013

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.

Dennis Niceswanger, 88 of Carroll, died early Monday morning, May 27, 2013 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Con-celebrant will be Fr. Dale Reiff. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir. Lector for the funeral mass will be Dennis’ son, Gary Niceswanger. Gift Bearers will be Dennis’ daughter, Debra Davis and Dennis’ granddaughters: Shelby Niceswanger, Leah Henderson, Erica Davis, Melanie Freed, Jennifer Freed, Hilary Smith, and Lacey Niceswanger. Eucharistic Ministers will be Dennis’ daughter, Carole Freed and Clete Windschitl. Casket Bearers will be Dennis’ grandsons: Chris Freed, Jeffrey Freed, Colin Niceswanger, Nathan Niceswanger, Justin Niceswanger, and Shawn Davis. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 5 p.m. on Thursday where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. by Holy Spirit Parish. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church at 9 a.m. on Friday where visitation will resume until 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 the family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on October 27, 1924 at Lake View, Iowa, Dennis Lowell Niceswanger was the son on Frank and Ruth (Fish) Niceswanger. He spent his younger years in Lake View and later graduated from Lake View High School in 1942. Dennis served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific during World War II and was honorably discharged at the rank of Sonerman 2nd Class. On July 28, 1945 he married Marian Wempe at St. Augustine’s Church in Oakland, California. The couple made their home in Carroll where Dennis worked as a parts department manager for Farm and Home Store and later Case Power and Equipment until his retirement in 1986.
Dennis enjoyed fishing, ballroom dancing, genealogy and spending time with his entire family. He was a member of the Carroll American Legion, Carroll VFW, and Holy Spirit Parish in Carroll where he served as a greeter and an usher.
Survivors include his wife Marian Niceswanger of Carroll; his sons: Bruce Niceswanger of Boulder, CO, Alan Niceswanger and wife Mabel of Somers, Ron Niceswanger and wife Lynn of Urbandale, and Gary Niceswanger and special friend Ellyn of Grays Lake, Illinois; his daughters: Carole Freed and husband DWayne of Council Bluffs and Debra Davis and husband Steven of Rock Springs, Wyoming; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; his sisters-in-law: Rosemary Niceswanger of Carroll, Marita Buelt of Carroll, and Lorraine Wempe of Halbur; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents; his son Gerald; his sister LaMerle Kennelley; and his brothers: Wayne and Ronald Niceswanger.

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 with the Niceswanger family. I'm going to explain how we are related. My great-great grandmother, Lottie O. Niceswanger Graham. I remember Dennis attending a couple funerals in the family. I was sorry to hear of his loss. I do hope that I can make it to visit Marian sometime soon.

Julie Belstene – May 30 2013 at 11:09 PM

So sorry to hear of your loss. I will remember Dennis as a very kind man, who seemed truly interested in you when you spoke with him. My sympathy to the entire family. Take care, Penny Sweeney

Penny Sweeney – May 30 2013 at 8:43 AM

Thoughts and Prayers, Marian to you and the family.

Rhonda Wempe – May 29 2013 at 1:01 PM

We always loved coming to Iowa and seeing all our Niceswanger clan--and Uncle Denny was always a big part of that. We have great memories and photos but it won't be the same not having him around! May God bless and comfort all of you. Love, Sharla and Rod McMaster

Rod and Sharla McMaster – May 29 2013 at 7:24 PM

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