Eugene “Beanie” Pudenz

01/04/1933 –
05/08/2021

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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 Beanie’s Funeral Mass on Sharp Funeral Home YouTube page can be found here: https://youtu.be/fff4duSwPHI.

Eugene “Beanie” Pudenz, age 88, of Carroll, died Saturday, May 8, 2021 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.

A Private Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at St. Lawrence Church- St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be by Jane Heithoff and Sherry Loughran. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Chris Pudenz. Casket Bearers will be Jim Herbers, Tracy Onken, Ron Wenck, Darrell Eischeid, Jason Krause, and Lou Herbers. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
A livestream will be available on the Sharp Funeral Home YouTube page at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqd2eeRJk5RTdEJoEooUoAQ. The link will also be found Wednesday morning on Beanie’s obituary page at www.sharpfuneral.com.

A public visitation will be held at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll on Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. The Pudenz family requests masks be worn for all those attending.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Beanie’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Eugene (Beanie), the son of Norbert and Elenora (Balk) Pudenz, was born January 4, 1933, and lived on the family farm near Mt. Carmel until he joined the US Army in 1954. He returned in 1955 and married Dorothy Alma Herbers on February 14, 1956, in Halbur, Iowa. They initially farmed in Fonda, Iowa for two years before moving to the Lidderdale area where they raised their five children and continued farming for the next 43 years. During this time, Eugene also sold Garst/Pioneer seeds for more than 40 years. Although the couple retired and moved to Carroll in 2001, farming always remained a part of Eugene’s life.

Eugene was an avid card player at Al’s Corner, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club, and with numerous friends and neighbors. He served on the boards for Carroll Community School District, the Catholic Parochial School at Mt. Carmel, and many local community organizations. Eugene enjoyed attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. He never met a soul with whom he couldn’t strike up a conversation.

Left to celebrate Eugene’s life is his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Pudenz of Carroll, and five children: Joy (Dean Stockton) of Omaha; Brian (Kyle) with children Kellan and Brennan of Basel, Switzerland; Scott (Adun Panngam) with children Ella and Chase of London, England; Bradley (Michele) of Lidderdale with daughter Elizabeth (Jason) Krause and grandson JJ of Johnston; and Chris (Sarah) with children Trevor and Morgan of Bennington, NE. Eugene’s surviving siblings are: Marilyn (Don) Wenck, Lester (Barb) Pudenz, Roger Pudenz, Judy (Marv) Masching.

Eugene was preceded in death by grandson, Kyle Pudenz, brother Merle, parents Norbert and Elenora Pudenz, and parents-in-law Frank and Elizabeth Herbers.

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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Thoughts and prayers to all he will be missed by many

Sandy Pudenz – May 10 2021 at 7:25 PM

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Arrive in Style was purchased for the family of Eugene "Beanie" Pudenz.

Comment #34223015 – May 14 2021 at 9:45 AM

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Sent a gift in memory of Eugene "Beanie" Pudenz

Jason and Susan Lord – May 13 2021 at 12:21 AM

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Paul Schaben and family purchased the Red Leaf Japanese Maple for the family of Eugene "Beanie" Pudenz.

Paul Schaben and family – May 12 2021 at 6:11 PM

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So sad to hear about Beanie over the weekend. He always had time to talk and share his insights on pretty much anything especially the Ag and the Seed industry. He was a big reason why I chose to a career in the seed industry. My sympathies to his family.

Tom Gross – May 12 2021 at 9:25 AM

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