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.

James A. Riesberg, age 56, of Maple River, Iowa, died early Saturday, December 19, 2009, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Wednesday, December 23, 2009, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Mt. Carmel. The Celebrant will be Father Joe Dillinger. Con-celebrant will be Father Leo Riesberg. Lector will be a son-in-law, Andy Behrens. Gift Bearers will be Sarah Stevens, Janelle Stevens, Kathy Johnson, and Tammy Rickers. Mass Servers will be Max Heithoff, Maddie Bauer, and Tori Bauer. Eucharistic Ministers will be Jenna Campbell and Tom Kollasch. Casket Bearers will be nephews, Andy Stevens, Nick Stevens, Nathan Riesberg, Jason Riesberg, Pat Riesberg, Chris Riesberg, Joe Wiederien, Gene Wiederien, Ron Wiederien, Tom Wiederien, and Mark Wiederien. Graveside Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Wednesday at St. Francis Cemetery in Maple River.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. Tuesday. A rosary will be prayed at 4 P.M. Tuesday by the Carroll Knights of Columbus. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Tuesday by the Parish. In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the funeral home or church for the American Cancer Society or the Kuemper Catholic Schools Foundation.
Mr. Riesberg was born on January 9, 1953, at Carroll, Iowa, the son of Andrew J. and Hilda B. (Sturm) Riesberg. He spent most of his lifetime in the Maple River community and attended St. Francis School and graduated from Kuemper High School in 1971. On September 25, 1976, he was married to Jean Stevens at Sacred Heart Church in Templeton. The couple made their home in Maple River. In his earlier years Jim was employed by the Farmland Foods Company in Carroll and since 1985 until the present day he has been employed in the transportation department at the Farner-Bocken Company in Carroll. He was a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish and long time member of the former St. Francis Parish at Maple River. He was also a member of the Carroll Knights of Columbus. Jim enjoyed his family, especially his grandson, and enjoyed his work and watching wrestling on television.
Survivors include his wife, Jean Riesberg of Maple River; his son, Jay Riesberg of Maple River; a daughter, Jenny Behrens and her husband Andy and their son Hayden of Minneapolis, Minn.; sisters, Sister Linda Riesberg F.S.P.A. of LaCrosse, Wisc., and Doris Wiederien and her husband Daryl of Glidden; his brothers, David Riesberg and his wife Linda of Lincoln, Nebr., and twin brother John Riesberg and his wife Marge of Carroll; and brother and sister-in-law, Dan and Pat Stevens of Carroll.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and by his father and mother-in-law, Don and Dorothy Stevens.

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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My prayers and thoughts are with you all at this time. I'm probably not going to make it to the funeral because of the weather but you will be in my thoughts and prayers at that time and throughout the Christmas season. Take comfort that he is at peace and that he suffers no longer. God bless you all.

Sandy Riesberg – December 22 2009 at 9:35 AM

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Jean and Family, Our thoughts and Prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. We are cousins to Tim and Denise. Our heart goes out to you all. We will keep you in our Prayers.

Marge& Dan Miller – December 21 2009 at 3:28 PM

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Dear Riesberg family-- Our hearts go out to you at this time. Jim was the most gentle and welcoming person around and we will miss him so much. Our memories are good ones and they will sustain us during this difficult time. May they do the same for you. Blessings. Sandy, Buddy, Lauren and Eric Comer

Sandy Goetzinger-Comer – December 21 2009 at 2:37 PM

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To Jim's Family: As we grieve the loss of a darn good person, we must remember what we have gained from him. I will always remember Jim's "can do" attitude that he never lost, even as he knew the end was close. I will always remember the positive way he approached the good and bad elements of life. I feel a great deal of sorrow for the loss of Jim and wish his family all the best as they deal with this. I take comfort, though in the fact that he has a great family who will carry on in the great spirit that was his. Don

Don and Doris Dobesh – December 20 2009 at 7:06 PM

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Jeanie and Family, We are thinking of you and praying for all of you. Always remember you have friends who care and will listen at anytime and we are some of them. Love and prayers Paul and Judy Testroet

Paul & Judy Testroet – December 20 2009 at 11:14 AM

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