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.

Edward A. Sturm, age 89, of Carroll, Iowa, died Monday, June 15, 2009, at Twilight Acres Nursing Home in Wall Lake, Iowa. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 A.M., Thursday, June 18, 2009, at St. Mary Church in Auburn. The Celebrant will be Father Lawrence McCarty. Lectors will be Crystal Neumayer and Sarah Tjaden. Gift Bearers will be Angie Sturm and Kelli Carroll. Mass Servers will be Katie Sturm and Morgan Wollesen. Eucharistic Ministers will be Sherrie Wilson, Rosie Obman, and Vernell Wittrock. Casket Bearers will be David Sturm, Eric Steinkamp, Adam Riedell, Brian Wilson, Matt Tjaden, Ryan Neumayer, and Mike Sturm. Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery in Auburn with military honors conducted by the Auburn American Legion. Bugler will be Mike Sturm. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 P.M. Wednesday. A rosary will be prayed at 5 P.M. Wednesday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Wednesday by the Parish. Mr. Sturm was born on June 9, 1920, at Templeton, Iowa, the son of Wolfgang and Frances (Hacker) Sturm. He spent his younger years in the Templeton community and attended Sacred Heart School and helped on the family farm. He entered the U.S. Army in December 1941 and served with the Fourth Infantry during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater receiving the Bronze Star. He was honorably discharged in November 1945. On January 22, 1946, he was married to Mildred Wittrock at St. Augustine Church in Halbur with Father Herman Kramer officiating. The couple farmed near Templeton and Coon Rapids and in 1951 purchased their farm northwest of Auburn. Mr. Sturm was a grain and livestock farmer. The Sturm’s retired in 1987 and moved to their home in Carroll. He was a member of St. Lawrence Parish and long time member of St. Mary Parish at Auburn. Mr. Sturm enjoyed his family, farming, fixing things in his shop, and playing cards. Survivors include his wife, Mildred Sturm of Carroll; his children, Donald Sturm and his wife Kathleen of Auburn, Janet Steinkamp and her husband Dick of Breda, Sherrie Wilson and her husband Steve of Lake View, Susie Frank and her husband Mike of Lake View, Connie Neumayer and her husband Rodney of Centennial, Colorado, and Doug Sturm and his wife Mary of Auburn; a son-in-law, Richard Riedell of Lake View; 26 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; brothers, Albert Sturm and his wife Ardith of Manning and Norbert Sturm of Carroll; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Beatrice and John Behrens of Carroll, Walter and LaVerne Wittrock of Halbur, Earl and Vernell Wittrock of Carroll, and Darlene Wittrock of Halbur. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, JoAnn Riedell; a grandson, Jacob Riedell; sisters, Agnes Wiederin, Rose Wiederin, Sophia Nepple, Mary Riesberg, and Hilda Riesberg; and brothers, Leonard Sturm, and infant brother, Herman Sturm.

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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