Eugene “Butch” Schmitz

10/22/1939 –

08/23/2019

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.

Eugene “Butch” Schmitz, age 79, of Arcadia, died Friday, August 23, 2019 at Accura Health Care of Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Arcadia. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Pick. Music will be by Sharon Bierl and the St. John’s Choir. Lector will be Randy Schmitz. Gift Bearers will be Mary Kohorst, and Nancy Schmitz. Eucharistic Ministers will be Jane Ahmann, Randy Schmitz, and Betty Schmitz. Casket Bearers will be Tim Schmitz, Dale Schmitz, Randy Schmitz Steve Schmitz, Clark Schmitz, Tom Schmitz, Nick Kohorst, and David Ahmann. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 930-10:15 a.m. Tuesday morning at St. John’s Church in Arcadia.

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

Eugene “Butch” Schmitz was born on October 22, 1939 at Carroll, Iowa the son of Theodore “Fritzy” and Barbara (Schenkelberg) Schmitz. He grew up in Arcadia and graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School.

Butch was employed with the Arcadia Oil Company for many years, and later held various jobs around the Arcadia community. Butch was a longtime St. Louis Cardinals fan. He enjoyed fishing, feeding the birds and squirrels that would visit his yard, trips to the casino, and playing cards with his many friends. Butch was active with St. John’s Parish, helping usher at many funerals over the years.

Survivors include his siblings: Clair (Leona) Schmitz of Carroll, Marian Schmitz of Arcadia, Jane Ahmann of Wayne, Nebraska; many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and many friends.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents; siblings: Elmer “Porky” Schmitz, Hubert John “Jack” Schmitz, sister-in-law: Eileen Schmitz, brother-in-law: Mark Ahmann; sister-in-law: Gladys Schmitz.

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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Tribute Wall

My grandmother, Anna Hausman was a sister to Butch's mother, Barb and the families were close. We could never understand where the name Eugene came from but my Mom gave the name to my younger brother, Joe - it must have come from Aunt Barbie's naming "Butch" Eugene. Happy memories of the Schmitz family and Butch always seemed to be smiling. Judy Vasos

judy vasos – August 24 2019 at 8:58 PM

Butch was a friend and provided support for the Henkenius family for as long as i can remember. It began with his help for me, and many others, as customers at the Conoco Station. He was a Kuemper graduate and was often at the school activities. While I was coaching at Kuemper, he and I would often talk about how the teams were doing. When my mother moved off the farm and bought the Diers home in Arcadia, Butch was a next door neighbor. He always had a smile on his face and i know he was looking out for our mother when she was out in the yard, in the garden, or walking to church. Butch will be remembered in a Mass in the near future.

Vern Henkenius – August 26 2019 at 4:01 PM

Lit a candle in memory of Eugene "Butch" Schmitz

Peg and Joleen – August 24 2019 at 7:47 AM

Lit a candle in memory of Eugene "Butch" Schmitz

Judy And Jeff Kruger – August 24 2019 at 7:01 PM

Obituaries