Helen M. Kelso-Macke

03/14/1924 –

03/31/2008

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.

Helen Kelso-Macke, age 84, formerly of Carroll and Jefferson, died Monday, March 31, 2008, at Shalom Park in Aurora, Colorado, of complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 A.M., Saturday, May 3, 2008, at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Timothy Schott. Lectors will be Alexandra Demos and Andrea Cocallas. Gift Bearers will be Kristin Sopoci, Andrea Cocallas, Alexandra Demos, Erin Presta, Kelly Presta, and Amber Sopoci. Eucharistic Minister will be Jacqui Bell-Essy. Graveside Services will be held at 2:30 P.M. Saturday at the Jefferson Cemetery in Jefferson, Iowa. Father Donald Reis, Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson will officiate at the graveside. The family will meet with friends beginning at 9 A.M. Saturday at St. Lawrence Church. Memorials may be left for the Alzheimer’s Association or for Beth Nehamah Hospice, 14800 E. Belleview Dr., Aurora, CO 80015. The Sharp Funeral Home of Carroll is in charge of funeral arrangements. Mrs. Macke was born on March 14, 1924, at Marshalltown, Iowa, the daughter of Albert F. and Harriet (Belknap) Klahn. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Iowa in 1946 with a major in Journalism and minor in Political Science. On August 24, 1947, she was married to Jack Kelso in Iowa City. The Kelso’s moved to Jefferson, Iowa, where their four children were born. Mr. Kelso died in 1962. Mrs. Kelso married Louis Macke in June 1965 and moved to Carroll. Mr. Macke died in 1967. Mrs. Macke began working at the Carroll Hallmark Store and eventually bought the store in 1974. She operated Helen’s Hallmark Store until her retirement in 1993. She then moved to Boulder, Colorado, to be closer to her daughters. She was an accomplished pianist, an avid bridge player, and life long Iowa Hawkeye fan. Mrs. Macke was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter and Carroll Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Macke was an incredible person – smart, funny, and full of life. Survivors include her children, Jim Kelso and his wife Linda of Maple Grove, Minn., Sue Cocallas and her husband Chris of Boulder, Colorado, Janet Demos and her husband Jolly of Aurora, Colorado, and Sandy Presta and her husband Steve of Littleton, Colorado; grandchildren, Kristin Sopoci and her husband Dave, Marcus and Nicholas Kelso, Jeffrey and Andrea Cocallas, Alexandra and John Demos, and Erin and Kelly Presta; great grandchildren, Steven and Amber Sopoci; sister, Mildred Schwartz of Plattsburgh, New York; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her two husbands; and a sister, Katherine Klahn, in infancy.

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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