Jim “Jolly” Ferneding

01/22/1954 –

06/09/2022

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.

Jim “Jolly” Ferneding, 68 of Manning, died Thursday, June 9, 2022 at his home.

A Funeral Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton. The celebrant will be Fr. Steve Brodersen. Concelebrant will be Fr. Dan Siepker. Music will be by Hannah Kerkhoff, Tom Schoeppner, and Duane Handlos. Lector will be Kristin Crossland. Gift Bearers will be Anna Hasenclever, and Ava Ferneding.

Visitation will be held from 9-9:45 a.m. at the church in Templeton. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held in the Templeton Center following the funeral mass.

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

James (Jim) Ferneding, the son of Alvin and Rita (Dentlinger) Ferneding, was born January 22, 1954, in Carroll, Iowa. Jim, nicknamed Jolly, grew up in rural Templeton, Iowa and attended school at Kuemper Catholic High School, Class of 1972. On June 17, 1978, Jim was united in marriage to Joyce A. Masching at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The couple resided and raised a family in rural Manning.

Jim spent the majority of his career running a diversified farming operation until the late 90s when he got out of livestock. In the early 2000s, he started working for Aspinwall Co-op retiring after 13 years of service. He continued his row-crop operation until 2021 shortly after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Jim was a lifelong member of the Sacred Heart Parish in Templeton. He enjoyed antique tractor pulls, rope pulls, tractor rides, playing cards, farming and family. Later he was instrumental in facilitating local antique tractor rides alongside lifelong friends and neighbors. He was a member of the Midwest Iowa Old Iron Club. He also enjoyed watching his grandkids in their many activities. Though he was a John Deere and Chevy man, Jim and Joyce enjoyed leisurely rides in their Ford Mustang Convertible. Jim loved watching westerns, especially John Wayne. Jim and Joyce enjoyed traveling all over to destinations including Mexico multiple times, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Europe, Washington DC, Disney Cruise, Gulf Shores, AL and many other trips.

Left to celebrate his life is his wife, Joyce and their children: Brian and wife Tiffany (Wolterman) Ferneding of Polk City, IA, Amy and husband, Scott Hasenclever of Lebo, KS, and Abby and husband Brad Cowan of Plattsmouth, NE. Grandchildren: Ava and Toby Ferneding, Anna, Sam, and Sawyer Hasenclever, and Cyrus, Conor, and Corbyn Cowan. His siblings Lonnie and Betty Ferneding of Manning, Gene and Mary Ferneding of Carroll, Kay and Steve Schroeder of Kingsley, Jean Ferneding of Manning, Jane Ferneding and Tom Timperley of Blair Nebraska, Joni and Mike Warner of Manning; in-laws, Linda and Mike Berger of Arcadia, Diane and Dan Sturm of Carroll, Sandy and Kenneth Irlmeier of Kimballton, Donna Pemble of Carroll, Dave and Deb Masching of Granger, Mary and Dave Trent of Carroll, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Rita Ferneding, his brothers Mike Ferneding and Mark Ferneding of Manning on August 11, 2022, In-laws Leon and Dorothy Masching and nephew Lance McNaught.

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

Joyce so sorry to here about Jim. He was also a class mate. We will miss his smile.

Diane Campbell – June 10 2022 at 7:47 PM

Leah Davis - Conklin Farms purchased the Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum for the family of Jim "Jolly" Ferneding.

Leah Davis – Conklin Farms – June 17 2022 at 9:18 AM

Joyce, My deepest sympathy to you and your family in the loss of Jolly. I loved to hear the Jolly stories when we worked 3-11 on 4th floor. We are the “older nurses now” but we really had a lot of fun. Sending hugs and prayers to all the Ferneding and Masching families. Jim always talks so highly of Jolly and Mike. Cherish the memories and take one day at a time!

Denise Higgins – June 13 2022 at 2:10 PM

Thoughts and prayers for you Joyce and your family! Patty and Bruce Hauswirth

Patty Hauswirth – June 13 2022 at 2:12 PM

Dear Joyce and Family, We are so very sad to learn of Jolly's/your dad's passing. We know you will be holding on tightly to the lifetime of loving memories in your hearts. Memories don't take away your grief and sadness though. Please know we are lifting you all up in prayer. God bless. Thinking of you.

Lynn Hire – June 13 2022 at 1:11 PM

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