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.

Donald Sturm, age 66 of Carroll died Thursday, December 6, 2012, at his residence near Carroll surrounded by his family following a battle with cancer.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Monday at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Mt. Carmel. The Celebrant will be Father Gary Snyder. Lector will be Don’s brother, Dick Sturm. Mass Servers will be his grandchildren, Madison and Meghan Sturm. Gift Bearers will be grandchildren, Cody Marquardt, Katie Marquardt, Toby Sturm, Kayla Sturm, Jacie Sturm, Gavin Sturm, and Brody Sturm. Communion Ministers will be Lynn and Dave Wittrock. Music will be by organist Denise Nieland and the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Choir and by soloists Mike and Sue Moore and Mark Caraher. Casket Bearers will be Marvin Glass, Tom Irlbeck, Mike Wiederin, Norman Schettler, Phil Collison, and Matt Lemker. Burial will be at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Mt. Carmel with military honors conducted by the Breda American Legion.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 P.M. on Sunday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Sunday by Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. Online condolences may be left for Don’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Don was born on October 1, 1946, at Carroll, Iowa, the son of Frank X. Sturm, Jr. and Lucy “Liz” Loew. He spent his lifetime in the Carroll community and graduated from Kuemper High School with the class of 1964. He entered the U.S. Army in February 1966 and served during the Vietnam War being honorably discharged in February 1968. Don and Mary Sporleder were married on February 15, 1969, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Lidderdale. The family lived north of Carroll where Don farmed and worked with his son Matt building equipment for the American Professional Quilting Systems of Carroll. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish. Don enjoyed his family, especially his grandchildren, and enjoyed restoring tractors and cars, driving his 1968 Dodge Charger, watching westerns on television, and was so proud of the fact that their family was named Farm Family of the Year by the Farmers Home Administration in the 1970’s.
Don is survived by his wife, Mary Sturm of Carroll; his children, Julie Sturm of Carroll, Mike (Jodie) Sturm of Carroll, Matt Sturm of Carroll, and Joe (Carri) Sturm of Carroll; 9 grandchildren; his mother, Lucy “Liz” Sturm of Carroll; two sisters, Bernie (Neil) Kenkel of Twin Lakes and Barb (Bob) Beyerink of Vail; a brother, Dick (Mavis) Sturm of Denver, Colo.; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Linda Francis and her friend Kenny of Faribault, Minn., Roger and Sherry Sporleder of Unionville, Missouri, Steve and Marilyn Sporleder of Lidderdale, June and John Kennebeck of Glidden, Phil Sporleder of Carroll, and Janel and Eric Niceswanger of Carroll; and by many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank X. Sturm, Jr.

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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To the Family of Don Sturm: we are sorry for your loss and may God watch over you during this difficult time. Don is resting peacefully and we do hope that you find comfort in the coming days.

Eric, Tracy, Anthony and Tasha Sturm – December 08 2012 at 6:16 PM

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DON STURM...my uncle & Godfather!It is w/great honor to know such a strong, hard working, family man who reminds me so much of Grandpa. I wish w/all my heart that there were something someone could do to take away the pain but there isn't. When my brother passed away, I found that people do & say the most incredibly stupid things in their effort to comfort. Forgive them for sympathy & empathy arn't founded on constructive, intellectual thought processes but rather on emotions. People were saying we should do this or don't do that as an aid in recovering from our grief. I was confused because all I knew was that there was this incredible pain that seemed only to get worse. Then a very understanding woman said what works for others won't work for you. Each loved one who leaves has had their own special relationship w/those left behind that's not duplicated in any other family. We must each find for ourselves what it takes to replace the pain w/memories & mend the peices of our broken hearts. I found (w/out thinking about it) that it doesn't hurt as much as today. And on some other day it didn't hurt as much as it did that day. You'll never stop missing him but you'll discover he's still with you, truly! My deepest sympathy to all family & friends going through the heartache of our loss. Please take care spiritually, emotionally & physically!

Brenda Beyerink – December 07 2012 at 4:58 PM

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