Elizabeth “Betty” Wurzer

11/16/1929 –

10/14/2015

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.

Elizabeth “Betty” Wurzer, 85 of Carroll, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at her residence in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir. Special music will be by Betty’s granddaughters: Shannon Hammer and Mollie Hammer. Lectors for the funeral mass will be Betty’s granddaughters: Amanda Meiners and Visola Angel. Gift Bearers will be Betty’s grandchildren. Casket Bearers will be Betty’s grandsons’: Matt Schmitz, Heath Walker, Sean O’Tool, Tyler Wurzer, Neil Wurzer, Bryan Wurzer and Aaron Meiners. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas will form an honor guard for the funeral mass. Burial will be at 1 p.m. on Monday in the Coon Rapids Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 2:30 p.m. on Sunday where there will be a rosary at 3 p.m. by the Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas and a Christian Wake Service at 5 p.m. by Holy Spirit Parish.

The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church at 9:30 a.m. on Monday 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 Betty’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Born on November 16, 1929 at Dedham, Iowa, Elizabeth was the daughter of George and Catherine (Kettman) Willenborg. Betty attended school at St. Joseph’s in Dedham and later graduated from Carroll High School in 1947.

On May 10, 1949 she was united in marriage to Leon Wurzer at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham. Following their marriage the couple made their home on a farm near Coon Rapids and later moved to the Coon Rapids community. In 1999, Betty moved to the Carroll Community where she had been residing at Orchard View.

Over the years Betty was employed at Boomsma Egg Plant in Glidden, Carroll Manor, assisted with the delivery of the Des Moines Register and did rest home work. Betty also cared for several elderly people in Carroll County in the past years.

Betty enjoyed baking, gardening, tending to her yard, and volunteering wherever needed. She was a member of Holy Spirit Church in Carroll and the Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas.
Betty is survived by her children: Gary (Pat) Wurzer of Homewood, IL, Richard Wurzer of Des Moines, Deb (Tom) Walker of Scranton, Leon (Renee) Wurzer of Bloomer, WI, Joe (Inez) Wurzer of Huntington Beach, CA, Janet (Dean) O’Tool of Des Moines, Lisa (Mark) Hammer of Coralville, Mary (Mark) Schmitz of Dedham, and Jane (Dave) Meiners of Pontiac, IL; 21 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: John (Charlotte) Wurzer of Apple Valley, MN, Delores Wurzer of Torrance, CA, Betty (Bill) Sabus of Urbandale, Dan (Irene) Wurzer of Farmington, MN, Marlene Wurzer of Walnut Creek, CA, and Lynne Wurzer of Tacoma, WA; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Leon; her sister, Emma Mayer; and her brothers: George Jr. Willenborg and William Willenborg.

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

Your friends at Teamwork Acres purchased the Sweet Tenderness for the family of Elizabeth "Betty" Wurzer.

Your friends at Teamwork Acres – October 16 2015 at 8:31 AM

Rich I remember that summer well.. The first and only time I wasn't the youngest Wurzer of the house. You teaching us how to skateboard off the picnic table and us teaching you not to dive in the shallow end of a swim pool. Luckily no emergency room visits that summer. Thanks for time you spent with Lucas when he was in your area. If you get this way our door is always open also. Jane

Jane N Dave Meiners – October 28 2015 at 2:39 PM

Oh, Rich you fit in so well with all of us nine kids. Living in a small town like Coon Rapids you had the opportunity to bike around town, go to the swim pool, make several trip to the little DX gas station for candy/pop, and just hang out doing whatever kids of 7-8 do! We all loved having you and everyone knew who you belong to as you looked just like us "Wurzer" kids. Mom liked being able to help your Mom that summer. You were just another little brother to us all. You are always welcome to come visit in Iowa again, our door is open. Deb

Deborah Walker – October 20 2015 at 9:17 PM

Wes and CJ, thanks so much for sharing these kind words about our mother. She truly was a kind and giving person. She loved helping others. Deb

Deborah Walker – October 20 2015 at 9:10 PM

Patty Conlin &Family purchased the Full Of Love Bouquet for the family of Elizabeth "Betty" Wurzer.

Patty Conlin &Family – October 17 2015 at 9:40 PM

Obituaries