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.

Irma Grote, 92 of Carroll, died Friday morning at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Mt. Carmel. The Celebrant will be Fr. Mark Stoll. Music will be by Nancy Lemker and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Choir. Lector for the funeral mass will be Sandy Riesberg. Gift Bearers will be: Shawna Kinter, Stacey Stoner, Stephanie Murphy, Katie Theulen, Jenny Glass, and Julie Pfeiffer. Eucharistic Ministers will be: Don Ferneding, Gene Riesberg, and Donna Grote. Casket Bearers will be: John Glass, Jim Glass, Jay Glass, Joel Glass, Eric Glass, and Andy Glass. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday in St. John’s Cemetery in Arcadia.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Monday where there will be a rosary at 5 p.m. and a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 p.m. Additional visitation will be from 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll.

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

Irma, the daughter of Anton and Mary (Sondgeroth) Riesberg was born on September 1, 1925 at Templeton, IA. She spent her younger years in the Templeton area attending the country school and Sacred Heart School. After her education, Irma helped many families raise their children.

Irma married Maurice Glass, August 6, 1946 at Sacred Heart Church at Templeton. They made their home southeast of Arcadia. This union was blessed with 6 children Marvin, Joseph, Janet, Richard, Thomas, & Paul.

On December 24, 1957 Maurice died in a tractor accident. Irma continued to live on the farm near Arcadia until she married Paul Grote on August 10, 1970 and moved to a farm near Mt Carmel. She was a devoted & supportive wife in all the farming endeavors. Irma loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. Irma enjoyed the company of her wonderful new neighbors when she moved to Amy Avenue in Carroll, in October 2013. She will always be remembered for her loving & caring spirit and her love for chocolate.

Irma was a member of the Our Lady of Mt Carmel parish and Mt Carmel Ladies Sodality where she served as president and also volunteered at the New Hope Village Store.
Survivors include her sons: Marvin Glass of Carroll, Joseph (Jane) Glass of Cedar Rapids, Richard (Terri) Glass of Carroll & Paul (Denise) Glass of Carroll; 2 step daughters Patricia (Dennis) Gehling of Carroll and Karen (John) Sadwith of Colorado.

Also surviving are 13 grandchildren; 6 step-grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and 12 step great grandchildren; her sister Lillian Ferneding of Carroll; and sister in law Rose Riesberg of Carroll; as well as several nieces and nephews. The following in-laws: Norbert Grote of Glidden, Joyce Grote of Minooka, Il, Jack (Doreen) Grote of Carroll, Ted (Peggy) Grote of Gibson City, Il, Lyle Vonnahme of Carroll, Jeanette (John) Rosener of South Sioux, NE, Mary (Leonard) Sailer of Manning, Alice (John) Hamilton of Jefferson and Judy (Duane ) Olberding of Waukon.

Irma was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Maurice Glass, and children Janet Glass and Thomas Glass in infancy, her brothers Clarence (Hiltrude) Riesberg, Walter (Martha) Riesberg, Andrew (Hilda) Riesberg, Hilbert Riesberg, Lester (Angela) Riesberg, Father Leo Riesberg, Anthony Riesberg, and her sisters Helen (Vincent) Schweers, Elizabeth (Bernard) Willenborg, brothers-in-law: Paul Ferneding and brother & sister in law Victor Sr. & Mary Tomka.

Also, her second husband Paul Grote, step grandson Nicholas Gehling, step great granddaughter Samantha Gehling, sister-in-law Marlita Grote, Lorraine Vonnahme and brothers-in-laws: Leonard Grote and Ralph Grote.

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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To Joe and Jane and family, Marvin, Rick, Terry, Shawna, Stacy and families, Paul, Denise, Eric and families: Our sincere condolences and prayers we send to you upon the death of Aunt Irma. May eternal light shine upon her and may you find comfort in the happy memories you have of her. Love, Mary Ann (Tomka) Kemper and family

Mary Kemper – December 08 2017 at 2:36 PM

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So sorry to hear about Irma. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Lin Renze – December 10 2017 at 8:16 PM

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To Paul, Denise, Marvin, Rick, Terry and the entire family: We are very sorry to hear about the loss of Irma. She was a wonderful lady...always very warm and welcoming. I always enjoyed coming over for the "neighborhood" football games or get togethers when growing up. Then when I got older, she was always a joy to see and visit with. Our sincere sympathy to you all. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you. Craig & Debbie Dentlinger

Craig Dentlinger – December 12 2017 at 3:09 PM

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We are so very sorry for your loss. Doug & Sheryl Zimmerman

Sheryl A Zimmerman – December 15 2017 at 2:59 PM

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Arrive in Style was purchased for the family of Irma Grote.

Comment #23801460 – December 10 2017 at 11:10 PM

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