Karen Willenborg

12/28/1953 –

05/24/2019

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.

Karen Willenborg, 65 of Ankeny and formerly of Carroll, died Friday, May 24, 2019 at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with Fr. Brian Feller officiating. Casket Bearers will be: Scott Weitl, Mike Weitl, Lois Dopheide, Linda Hagerty, Kenzie Weitl, Jill Dopheide, Diane Owen, and Patty Alley. Burial will be in Holy Angels Cemetery in Roselle.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday at the funeral home from 10-11:15 a.m.

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

Born on December 28, 1953 at Carroll, Iowa, Karen was the daughter of Paul and Lavina (Tunning) Willenborg. She grew up on a farm near Roselle where she attended Holy Angels School and later graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll. Karen then moved to the Des Moines area for several years before residing in the Ankeny community. For over 35 years she was employed with Principal Financial Group in Des Moines, where her last position was Director of IT until her retirement. In retirement, Karen cared for her mother and also assisted babysitting her great nieces and great nephews.
She loved to travel and took many trips throughout the United States and several worldwide. Karen enjoyed camping with her family and friends, and also biking, riding in Ragbrai. She looked forward to her ladies night out with a group of close friends and coworkers. Karen’s dogs, Bailey and Gatsby were a big part of her life and she had great love for them.

Left to celebrate her life is Karen’s sister, Jan Weitl and her husband Mike of Templeton; her niece, Sara (Travis) Westphal and their children, David and Kaylee of Prairie City; her nephew, Scott (Sarah) Weitl and their children, Scarlett, Sawyer, and Summer of Carroll; as well as many special cousins, neighbors, other extended relatives and many close friends.

Karen was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Lavina Willenborg; and her brother in infancy, Teddy.

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

Karen was a great person to work with at Principal. She cared about her people deeply. She was very kind and fun to be around. God Bless. Todd N.

Todd Nordquist – May 27 2019 at 8:59 AM

So sorry to hear this. Remember Karen from when we were kids and our family visited with hers. Also seeing her when she visited her Mom back in Carroll. RIP

Cindy Sporrer – May 27 2019 at 8:58 PM

I am so sorry to hear about Karen’s passing. She was a great person and will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Erika Uhlenkamp – May 29 2019 at 10:24 AM

Karen was a grade school friend from Roselle. My sympathy to her family. Deb Henningsen (was Riesenberg)

Deb Henningsen (Riesenberg) – June 01 2019 at 8:32 AM

Emerald Garden Basket was purchased for the family of Karen Willenborg.

Comment #28130356 – May 27 2019 at 8:56 PM

Obituaries