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.

John Wessling passed away peacefully on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the age of 74, surrounded by his loving family at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Holy Spirit Church ~ St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. Burial will be immediately following the funeral mass at the Carroll City Cemetery in Carroll.

Visitation will be from 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on Saturday at Holy Spirit Church prior to the Funeral Mass.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for John’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Kuemper Catholic Schools and the Iowa Donor Network to support organ and tissue donation. John was a registered organ and tissue donor and his family is comforted by the knowledge that his donation will allow others the chance to experience improved health.

John was born on March 15, 1951, in Carroll, Iowa to Hedwig (Renze) and Hugo Wessling. John’s family often revisited the story of their trip to the hospital for his birth during the heaviest and longest-duration snowstorm on record in Iowa history. John graduated from Kuemper High School in 1969 and Iowa State University in 1974. A farmer for 50 years, John was known for his ability to fix anything, his love of the Iowa State Cyclones and his quiet patience, most of the time. John married his beloved wife, Susan (Bauer), on June 22, 1974, and together they raised four children.

John enjoyed spending time on or near the water. He regularly took his family boating at Lake View while his children were growing up and enjoyed fishing and camping. In recent years John and Susan made annual snowbird trips to South Padre Island, Texas and regularly spent time at Lake Panorama. John also enjoyed spending time with friends playing cards and golfing.

John is survived by his wife of 51 years Susan (Bauer); his children: Sara Wessling, Adam (Jessi) Wessling, Nick (Crystal) Wessling and Abby (Greg) Olsem; a brother George (Phyllis) Wessling of Garner, Iowa and brother-in-law Leo Seidl of Joplin, Missouri; and his grandchildren: Hailee, Hayden, Avery, Toby, Annabelle, Hannah, Nora, Vivian, Miles, Peter and Quinn. He was preceded in death by his sisters: Sister Darlene Wessling FSE and Roselyn Seidl; his father Hugo Wessling and wife Mary (Meyer); and his mother Hedwig (Hattie) Wessling.

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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Memories are the legacy of love...our sympathies.. Gerald n Katie Van Erdewyk and family..

Van Erdewyks – November 11 2025 at 2:54 PM

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Rest in peace Classmate

Gerry Kraus – November 11 2025 at 3:18 PM

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Sorry for your loss Sara. Thinking of you and sending prayers during this time. Jackie (Beyerink) Rahe

Jackie Rahe – November 11 2025 at 4:42 PM

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Camping, cards, vacations, New Years Eve, we did it all together. Nothing will ever be the same without our John. We are left with endless memories. Be at peace now, John. :purple_heart::blue_heart: the Schultes

lin schulte – November 11 2025 at 5:59 PM

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I was a classmate at Kuemper. I remember John as quiet, polite, and a good student. Rest in peace. Condolences to his family. He is in my prayers.

Judy Danner Feilmeier – November 11 2025 at 6:34 PM

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