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 the livestream of the service can be found by clicking here https://youtu.be/aQ5VfRgIcgM
Gerald F. Schreck, 92 of Carroll, died Sunday, December 5, 2021, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by his adoring family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Thursday, December 9, 2021, at St. John Paul II Parish – Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Concelebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Mass Servers will be Max Schreck, Charlie Schreck, and Abrey Pudenz. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Kathleen Macke. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Nicole Kasperbauer, Aly Schreck, and Jamie Pudenz. Gift Bearers will be Melissa Rutten Bradford, and Cortney Kirby-Smith. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Gerald’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren. Casket Bearers will be Ryan Schreck, Chad Schreck, Casey Pudenz, Lee Schon, Tyler Kasperbauer, Jacob Schreck, Adam Schreck, Von Kraus, Franz Reisz, and Blake Schreck. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Carroll American Legion.
Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday at Holy Spirit Church. Additional visitation without greeting the family will be held from 9-9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the church for Kuemper Catholic Schools Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences for the Schreck family may be left at www.sharpfuneral.com.
A son of William and Rose (Thein) Schreck, Gerald was born on August 1, 1929, near Dedham, Iowa. He attended St. Joseph School and later Carroll Public School. Gerald farmed with his father until he was drafted into the United States Army in September of 1951. He served in the 7th Army division in Korea, earning the Combat Infantry Badge, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Campaign Stars and was honorable discharged with the rank of Corporal in May of 1953.
On December 29, 1953, Gerald was united in marriage to the love of his life, Madonna Vonnahme, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church with Rev. P.M. Sturm officiating. The Schreck’s farmed in the Vail area until 1964 when they moved to the cherished family farm south of Carroll, retiring in 2003. Mr. Schreck was a former member of Holy Angels Church in Roselle and currently Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. Gerald served on the Halbur-Templeton-Roselle Elementary School Board, Carroll City Extension Board and Director of the (former) Glidden R.E.C. Board. He was a member of the Carroll American Legion and lifelong member of the Iowa Farm Bureau.
Partial to John Deere, Gerald had a love of farming, raising livestock, repairing his machinery, tractor rides, tractor pulls, and plowing meets. He enjoyed having company over at home, helping wherever help was needed, watching the news and game shows, playing cards, and reading. Despite some health issues, Gerald was able to participate in the Military Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in May of 2015 where he reconnected with other comrades, remembered lost friends and visited memorials dedicated to honor the service and sacrifices of fellow Veterans.
More than anything, Gerald reveled in his role as a father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His quick wit, barrel-chested laughs, positivity and unending devotion to his family will be missed but never forgotten.
Gerald is survived by his loving wife Madonna of Carroll; his 12 children: Randy Schreck (fiancé Julianne Bengford) of Carroll, Mark (Mary) Schreck of Willey, Gerrine (Kevin) Kirby of Lincoln, NE, Joan (Denny) Rutten of Carroll, Michelle (Dean) Pudenz of Carroll, Melanie (Jeff) Schon of Glidden, Maribeth Kasperbauer of Glidden, Keith (Lori) Schreck of Willey, Kevin (Amy) Schreck of Roselle, Jill (Dr. Steve) Kraus of Carroll, Julie (Greg) Reisz of Woodbine, and Brian (Mandy) Schreck of Carroll; 43 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren with one on the way; his siblings: Jim (Ione) Schreck, Paul (Lois) Schreck, Bill Schreck, Connie (John) Bruner, Betty (Mark) Schweery, and Elaine Nieland; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lois Schreck, Don LeRiger, Lois Vonnahme, Kathryn (Jerry) Gross, and Dennis (Marilyn) Vonnahme; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, William and Rose Schreck; his infant daughter, Mary Elizabeth Schreck; his sons-in-law, John Berning and Scott Kasperbauer; his parent’s in-law, Frank and Pauline (Bruening) Vonnahme; his siblings: Mary Rose Nagl, JoAnn LeRiger, and Robert Schreck; his sister-in-law, Ione Hensel, Mary Clare Schreck; his brother-in-law, Ralph Vonnahme and Bob Nagl.
To honor Gerald’s life, the family humbly asks the community to quietly extend an act of kindness to a friend or stranger. Good deeds come in all shapes and sizes; please consider spreading extra love and joy in Gerald’s memory.

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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Alvina Thelen – December 06 2021 at 8:34 PM

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We lost a great friend of our family and man who always made everyone feel so good when you would stop and talk. My mom and dad would always say so many nice things about the Schreck family. I still remember visiting them, riding my first horse, and having so much fun on that farm long ago South of Vail. I always enjoyed seeing him at the REC meetings and just to say hello. He passed that friendly greeting of people on to his kids and grand-kids. When ever I met one of them through an REC project they always were so out going and down right nice! He will be missed!! Jim and Sherri Freml

Jim Freml – December 07 2021 at 7:49 AM

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MADONNA AND CHILDREN MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY..AY GOD BE WITH OF YOU IN THIS TIME OF NEED.

Marcella Patton – December 07 2021 at 4:19 PM

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My deepest condolences to all! One of Carroll County’s legendary families! God bless all and RIP Gerald!

Denny O’Grady – December 08 2021 at 9:57 PM

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Delightful Dieffenbachia was purchased for the family of Gerald F. Schreck.

Comment #35990180 – December 07 2021 at 4:43 PM

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