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.

Gina Tiefenthaler, daughter of Alan and Marlene Tiefenthaler of Breda, died on December 4, 2020 and was laid to rest the following week in St. Bernard’s Cemetery at a private family ceremony.

Gina’s family is very grateful for the many generous expressions of sympathy, flowers, and gifts to the Breda City Pool Restoration Fund in her name.

The family now invites the community to celebrate Gina’s life with a a prayer service at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 18,, 2021 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. Following the service there will be a reception at the Breda American Legion.

Gina Marie Tiefenthaler, age 57, of West Des Moines, died after weeks of battling COVID-19 on Friday, December 4, 2020, at UnityPoint Health, Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

There will be a private family burial on Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Breda, with a Celebration of Life Mass for family and friends in 2021, at a date to be determined. Casket Bearers will be members of Gina’s family.

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

Gina was born in Carroll on October 28, 1963, to Alan and Marlene Tiefenthaler of Breda. As the oldest of four children, born before sisters Jill Tiefenthaler (Washington, DC) and Jennifer (Tiefenthaler) Maystadt (New Orleans, LA) and brother Jon Tiefenthaler (Breda), she lived her formative years in Breda.

After graduating from Kuemper High School, Gina enrolled at Iowa State University. She graduated cum laude from ISU with an English major before earning her law degree at the University of Iowa. She practiced law in the Twin Cities at Burd Bartz & Gutenkauf and Gray Plant Mooty and in Florida.

Throughout her life, Gina enjoyed exploring new places through travel, books, and film. She lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico and West Miami Beach, Florida, as well as the Twin Cities and Iowa. She was an avid sports fan and an accomplished athlete in her youth. Gina also loved her cats, Carl and Art.

In addition to her loving parents and siblings, Gina is survived by her siblings’ families: Jill’s husband, Kevin Rask, and children, Olivia and Owen; Jennifer’s husband, Thomas Maystadt, and children Grace and Lily, and Jon’s wife, Allisa Tiefenthaler, and children Raymond and Harrison.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be sent to the Breda City Pool Restoration Fund; P.O. Box 129, Breda, IA 51436. Gina loved the Breda pool as a child, spent countless hours perfecting her one-and-a-half off the tower as a teen, and had her first paying job there as a lifeguard.

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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So sorry for your loss. I remember Gina. I remember her as a great athlete, and so kind. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Joni (Huegerich) Reese – December 09 2020 at 6:03 PM

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To Gina's family, my sympathy to you all. I have so many memories of our Breda school days and what a unique and spirited friend she was. This breaks my heart for you all as losing a child isn't easy. I have been praying for you all. Gina, wishing you peace and love in your next life. RIP. Mary Ann (Wenzel) Schulte

Mary Ann Schulte – December 09 2020 at 11:14 AM

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Marlene, Alan and family, I am so sorry of the passing of your Gina. May you hold in your heart all the wonderful memories you shared with her. Hugs and prayers for all of you.

Jennifer Crowley – December 09 2020 at 8:55 PM

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As a young boy, I spent many hours at the Breda swimming pool - enthralled as Gina performed her one and half off the high tower - while songs from Olivia Newton John played on the speakers. Years later, Gina was also in a "Creative Non-fiction" course I took at ISU. On behalf of all the boys in Breda and at ISU, her talent and charm were captivating and enchanting. She will be missed. Bill Rosener

Bill Rosener – December 12 2020 at 10:34 AM

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Allen and Marlene. So sorry to hear of Ginas passing! I haven’t seen Gina in many years but remember our time spent as classmates as a positive memory. I recall our going out for Junior Miss together and experiencing that “celebrity” competition. I will keep her and her family in my prayers. A life lived too short! Sincerely, Kristy (Brincks) Liechti

Kristy Liechti – December 13 2020 at 8:49 PM

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