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.

The direct link to the livestream of the service can be found by clicking here https://youtu.be/oBWYF5Xezgg

Donald Raymond Tigges, 86, of Carroll, died peacefully Sunday, November 28 surrounded by family at Accura Nursing Home in Carroll, Iowa.

Mass of the Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, December 3, 2021, at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Sherry Loughran. Special music will be by Allie Smith and Olivia Tigges. Eucharistic Minister will be Jackie Reineke. Lector will be Emily (Tigges) Booth. Gift Bearers will be Olivia Tigges, Hahley Wiltse, and Austin Tigges. Casket Bearers will be Ben Tigges, Garrett Tigges, Avrie Tigges, Torie Smith, Jakob Tigges, Grant Tigges. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Emily Booth, Hahley Wiltse, Olivia Tigges, Allie Smith, and Austin Tigges. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. Friday, in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dedham with military honors conducted by the Dedham American Legion.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, December 2, 2021, at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. Additional visitation will be held from 9-9:45 a.m. on Friday at the church. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Don’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be forwarded to the family’s charity of choice. The Tigges family requests that masks be worn at the visitation and the Funeral Mass.

Don was born September 12, 1935, as the youngest of eight children to Joseph and Anna Tigges in Dedham, Iowa. He attended St. Joseph Catholic elementary school in Dedham and after working the family farm for four years, served in the Army from 1956-1958. After his honorable discharge he continued in the Army Reserves for two additional years.

After serving his country he worked at Kuemper High School. It was during this time he met his one and only love of 59 years.

Don married Marlene Frances Reinart on June 23, 1962, at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll presided by Father Louis H. Kollasch. They remained in Carroll where they raised five children. He worked for Ocama Food Company, Omar Bread Company and Fuller Brush before being hired as a car sales associate for Bill Burgess Motors. He continued as a respected salesperson in Carroll for over 42 years, retiring in 2005 from Lou Walsh Motors.

Don loved so many of the simple things in life. He was an avid reader, loved a good steak, ballgame, or movie, but mostly enjoyed any time spent with his wife and family. He loved sports of all kinds, favoring the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Cubs (2016 was a very good year!). You could frequently catch him in a friendly bantering of politics or writing a letter to the editor to emphasize his point. Don loved movie quotes and telling stories. He prided himself on his honesty and integrity, which makes it so ironic that one of his most used comments was “Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.”

Don is survived by his wife, Marlene of Carroll; five children: Mark (Teresa) Tigges of Carroll, Michael Tigges of Olathe, KS, Lisa (David) Smith of Tacoma, WA, Matthew (Jennifer) Tigges of Waukee and Anthony Tigges of Carroll. Eleven grandchildren: Ben (Andrea) Tigges of Fort Gordon, GA, Emily (Collan) Booth of Carroll, Olivia and Jakob Tigges of Olathe, KS, Allie and Torie Smith of Tacoma, WA, Garrett, Avrie and Grant Tigges of Waukee, IA, Austin Tigges of Carroll and Hahley (Kyle) Wiltse of Knoxville, TN; four great-grandchildren, Noah, Eli, and Simon Tigges and Lincoln Fisher; sister-in-law Mary Lou Hartl, brother-in-law Merline (Betty) Reinart; and many nieces and nephews.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Anna (Brauckman) Tigges, father and mother-in-law Clarence and Dorothy Reinart. Five brothers, Leonard, Arthur, Aldred, Edward, and Joseph Tigges; three sisters Alma Klocke and Martina VanDyke, and Lillian in infancy. Sisters-in-law Margie Tigges, Lavina Tigges, Wanda Tigges, Rita Tigges and Freda Tigges, and Margaret Reinart; brothers-in-law Raymond Klocke, Aldebert “Tubby” Irlbeck, Norbert VanDyke, and Joseph Hartl.

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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My deepest condolences to family! A great guy and friend!

Denny O’Grady – November 30 2021 at 4:02 PM

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My Deepest Sympathy to you Marlene and family.

Joleen Reicks Schultz – December 04 2021 at 3:25 PM

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This lovely gentleman will most assuredly be missed. We were privileged to know he and Marlene for over 20 years when he worked for Walsh Motors. He always had a smile and a story or two. Our sympathies to his family who he loved most of all. Mark and Jean Uhlenkamp

Mark and Jean Uhlenkamp – November 30 2021 at 4:34 PM

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Divine Peace Bouquet was purchased for the family of Donald R. Tigges.

Comment #35913344 – November 28 2021 at 8:27 PM

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Peaceful White Lilies Basket was purchased for the family of Donald R. Tigges.

Comment #35913413 – November 28 2021 at 8:44 PM

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