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.

Gary Venteicher, 78 of Carroll, died Saturday, March 23, 2019 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa surrounded by his family.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at St. John Paul II Parish – Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Gary Snyder. Music will be by Dr. Franklyn Busby, Pastoral Musician, Anne Tigges, and the Holy Spirit Resurrection Choir. Mass servers will be Cole Collison and A.J. Schreck. Lector for the funeral mass will be Steve Vollstedt. Holly Venteicher, Casey Bruch, Erin Looney-Bruch and A.J. Canoles will present the offertory gifts. Honorary Casket Bearers will be: Katie Canoles, Kristen Vollstedt, Ashley Sibenaller, Cailin Vollstedt, Chloe Venteicher, Emily Venteicher, and Ava Venteicher. Casket Bearers will be: Nate Bruch, T.J. Bruch, Alex Bruch, Jacob Bruch, Jared Vollstedt, Austin Sibenaller, Grant Sibenaller, Logan Sibenaller, Nic Venteicher, and Collin Venteicher. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Arcadia American Legion.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Tuesday where there will be a rosary at 5 p.m. by the Carroll Knights of Columbus and a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church on Wednesday morning where additional visitation will be held from 10-10:45 a.m.

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

Born on March 16, 1941 at Carroll, Iowa, Gary was the son of Leonard and Armella (Haverkamp) Venteicher. He attended St. Augustine’s School in Halbur, St. John’s School in Arcadia and later graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1959. Following his schooling Gary farmed near Halbur and also served in the Army National Guard from 1963-1967. On September 2, 1967, he was united in marriage to Betty Mayer at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll. While he was engaged in farming, Gary served on the Carroll County Pork Producers Board of Directors, and was a 4-H Leader for 17 years. In 1994, Gary began his working career at Wittrock Motors in Carroll where he was employed until his retirement in 2007. After his retirement he committed his time as Treasurer of the Carroll Moose Lodge.

In his younger years, Gary enjoyed playing fast pitch softball and was later inducted into the Super Fan Hall of Fame. Gary enjoyed fishing, and being active in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s activities

He was a member of the Arcadia American Legion where he served as Past Commander and Adjutant Chaplin, Carroll Knights of Columbus, St. John Paul II Parish-Holy Spirit Church, Carroll County Pork Producers, Past President of St. Augustine Parish Board of Directors, Cal-Car Board of Directors, Kuemper School Board, and also served as Kuemper Ball Co-Chairs in 1992.

Gary is survived by his wife Betty Venteicher of Carroll; his children: Jill Bruch of Roselle, Janell (Steve) Vollstedt of Manilla, Wendy Sibenaller of Roselle, Chris Venteicher of Omaha, Todd Venteicher of Carroll, Pat Venteicher of Carroll and Jamie (Holly) Venteicher of Carroll; 17 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; his sisters: Judie (Gary) Frideres of Ankeny, Sharon Secrist of West Des Moines, Nancy (Gene) Riesberg of Ankeny and Cindy (Mike) Haubrich of Arcadia; his sister-in-law, Joyce (Tom) Pudenz of Lidderdale; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Armella Venteicher; his parents-in-law, Paul and Theresa Mayer; his son-in-law, Leo Sibenaller; his great-granddaughter, Talia Bruch; and his brother-in-law, Morris Secrist.

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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I will always have good memories of my cousin Gary!

Debby Jotham – March 25 2019 at 8:35 AM

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Rick Venteicher & Family purchased the Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum for the family of Gary Venteicher.

Rick Venteicher & Family – March 26 2019 at 1:26 PM

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We share your loss and prayers are on the way to your family. Charles and Sharon (Gehling) Coulter.

Sharon (Gehling) Coulter – March 27 2019 at 8:56 AM

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Janell, Steve & Family: My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time.

Jerry Boger – March 26 2019 at 4:41 PM

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Lit a candle in memory of Gary Venteicher

Rick Venteicher – March 26 2019 at 1:12 PM

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