Elaine V. Dentlinger

07/20/1928 –

10/30/2017

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.

Elaine V. Dentlinger, age 89, of Carroll, and formerly of Lidderdale, died Monday, October 30, 2017, at Regency Park Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 3, 2017, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Lidderdale. The celebrant will be Fr. Brian Feller. Mass Servers will be Mitchell and Parker Badding. Music will be by Deanna Daniel, and the Holy Family Parish Choir. Lector will be Nicole Dentlinger. Gift Bearers will be Kelsey Dentlinger, Joe Karstens, Logan Karstens, and Crystal Koehler. Eucharistic Ministers will be Joe and Katie Daniel, and Joni Badding. Casket Bearers will be Nicole Dentlinger, Kelsey Dentlinger, Dave Dentlinger, Ryan Dentlinger, Dale Dentlinger, Craig Dentlinger, Bill Schreck, and Dan Badding. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 5 p.m. on Thursday, where there will be a Christian Wake Service held at 7 p.m.
Additional visitation will be held from 9 until 10 a.m. on Friday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Elaine’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Elaine was born on July 20, 1928 in Roselle, Illinois; the daughter of Fred and Matilda (Frass) Hitzemann. After growing up there, and attending school, Elaine took a job with Butler Brothers, an office company in Chicago. Elaine would commute by riding the train that would take her into downtown Chicago, and return back to Roselle in the evening.
Elaine met her husband Elmer Dentlinger at a wedding of a mutual friend, while Elmer was on leave from the military. On September 19, 1953, the couple was united in marriage at St. Walters Catholic Church in Roselle, Illinois. The couple made their home on the Dentlinger family farm south of Arcadia, Iowa, and to this union five children were born.
Elaine enjoyed gardening, crocheting, knitting, playing cards, and traveling. Some of her travels took her to Hawaii, Europe, Florida, and Alaska just to name a few. She also enjoyed volunteering with local organizations, and most of all Elaine enjoyed the time she spent with her family. Elaine was a member of Holy Family Parish of Lidderdale, and the Holy Family Woman’s Guild.
Left to celebrate Elaine’s life are her children: Duane (Wanita) Dentlinger of Carroll, and Roy Dentlinger of Glendale, AZ; her grandchildren: Nicole Dentlinger of Ankeny, Kelsey Dentlinger (fiancé Joe Karstens) of Glidden, Dave (Dora) Dentlinger of Carroll, and Ryan Dentlinger (fiancé Crystal Koehler) of Sioux Falls, SD; 2 great-grandchildren: Logan Karstens, and Daniel Dentlinger; her brothers: Roland (Pat) Hitzemann of Illinois, and Ray (Sharon) Hitzemann of Illinois; and her sisters-in-law: Helen Hitzemann of Florida, Arlene Dentlinger of Carroll, Isabelle Dentlinger of Denison, and Joni Badding of Carroll; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Elaine was preceded in death by her husband Elmer in 1985; her children: Chris Dentlinger, Pam (Jack) Small, and Thomas Dentlinger; her parents: Fred and Matilda Hitzemann, her parents-in-law: Joseph and Anna Dentlinger; her siblings: Wilbert (Bernice) Hitzemann, Albert (Marge) Hitzemann, Venetta (Eddie) Einoris, Leona (John) Bohne, Nelda (Bob) Mish, Maureen (Elmer) Soehlman, Leonard Hitzemann, Elmer Hitzemann in infancy, and Melvin Hitzemann at age 14; her brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law: Aloysius (Al) Dentlinger, Lawrence Dentlinger, Martha (Everett) Daniel, Clara (Elmer) Friedman, Ruth (Andy) Schreck, Mary Dentlinger in infancy, and Bob Badding.

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

Grandpa’s been waiting a long time to see grandma again. So thankful she went quickly and with no pain. Love & miss you, Grandma D.

Nicole Dentlinger – November 01 2017 at 5:38 PM

We never met Elaine, but last year our daughter Allison (age 9) became Elaine's pen pal through the Ar-We-Va school program. She was able to meet Elaine during a field trip and they continued to write each other over the summer. Allison and our family send our love and prayers to your family. She will miss her pen pal.

Sara, Kevin, Allison and Andy Skinner – November 05 2017 at 9:11 PM

I will miss our visits ....even if the conversation was sometimes quite brief. 😊 My sincere sympathy. Prayers & hugs to all. So sad that I can't be there at this time. Know that you are in my prayers each day. Love, cousin Karen

Karen Daniel – November 01 2017 at 8:10 PM

Thank you, Karen! We will miss you, but thanks for keeping us in your prayers!

Nicole Dentlinger – November 01 2017 at 9:33 PM

We never met Elaine, but last year our daughter Allison (age 9) became Elaine's pen pal through the Ar-We-Va school program. She was able to meet Elaine during a field trip and they continued to write each other over the summer. Allison and our family send our love and prayers to your family. She will miss her pen pal.

Sara, Kevin, Allison and Andy Skinner – November 05 2017 at 9:10 PM

Obituaries