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.

Leonette Irlbeck, age 82, of Templeton, died Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 3, 2015 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton. Celebrant will be Fr. Steve Brodersen. Music will be by Jeanne Kerkhoff and the Sacred Heart Men’s Choir and granddaughter Emily Carlson. Mass servers will be Leonette’s great-grandchildren: Nathan Reiling, and Jackson Snyder. Lectors will be Leonette’s granddaughters: Ann Meiners, Amy Hanken, Jill Schoeppner, and Sara Erickson. Gift Bearers will be Leonette’s granddaughters: Beth Schoeppner, Kim Gerken, Kelly Kreifels, Amber Schoeppner, and Brenda Schoeppner. Eucharistic Minister will be Leonette’s daughter-in-law Mary Schoeppner. Casket Bearers will be Leonette’s grandsons: Brian Reiling, Clark Snyder, Ellery Segebart, Pete Segebart, Adam Schoeppner, Alex Schoeppner, Austin Schoeppner, and Ethan Schoeppner. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 5 p.m. on Friday where there will be a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to Sacred Heart Church at 9 a.m. Saturday, where visitation will resume until the time of the funeral mass.

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

Born on December 2, 1932 on her parent’s farm west of Carroll, Iowa, Leonette was the daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Baumhover) Ocken. She grew up in the Templeton community and graduated from Sacred Heart School. On June 27, 1951 she was united in marriage to Leo Schoeppner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton. The couple farmed east of Templeton where Leonette was a devoted homemaker, and also helped in the farming, shelling, and seed corn operation.

After the passing of her husband Leo; Leonette married Vernon Irlbeck on November 29, 1969 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton. The couple farmed near the Templeton community. They then retired to Templeton. Over the years Leonette enjoyed quilting, needlepoint, crocheting blankets for her grandchildren, music, puzzles, reading, watching baseball, and spending time with her family, where she always attended her children and grandchildren’s events. She also enjoyed playing the organ at Sacred Heart Church where she served as the organist for over 37 years. Leonette was a member of the Sacred Heart Ladies Guild, the Catholic Daughters of the Americas – serving as former Regent for Court Sacred Heart.

Leonette is survived by her husband, Vernon Irlbeck of Templeton; children: Tom (Mary) Schoeppner of Templeton, Pat (John) Snyder of Templeton, Joan (Dale) Reiling of Carroll, Carol (Jim) Segebart of Denison, Gary Schoeppner and friend Suzanne Semke of Templeton, Dale (Peggy) Schoeppner of Hastings, MN, and Dave (Meg) Schoeppner of Templeton; 18 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren; her siblings: Alice (Wayne) Rupiper of Roselle, Janice (Harlan) Wolterman of Bellevue, NE, Ronald Ocken (friend Kathy) of Omaha, NE, Bob (Lynn) Ocken of Cedar Rapids, and Merle (Nancy) Ocken of DeWitt; her brother-in-law: Keith Irlbeck of Prior Lake, MN; her sisters-in-law: Dorothy Schoeppner of Lancaster, CA, and Alice Theis of Calimesa, CA; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

She was preceded in death by her parents; first husband Leo Schoeppner on June 28, 1964, a daughter, Mary Schoeppner, a son, Jason Irlbeck, daughter-in-law, Sheila Schoeppner, and her siblings: Larry Ocken, LaVonne Ocken, and Joleen Irlbeck.

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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"Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I will fortify you, yes, I will help you, I will really hold on to you with my right hand of righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

Babe Quintrall – December 31 2014 at 9:49 PM

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Jim, Carol and family: So sorry to hear of your mothers passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you. at this sad time. God's Blessings.

Jerry Boger – January 01 2015 at 3:57 PM

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Condolences to John and Pat Snyder and Pat's family. Our thoughts and prayers are for you. Wally and Annette Hansen

wally hansen – January 02 2015 at 9:30 AM

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Our deepest sympathy to all the "Schoeppner Families" in the loss of your Mother. May you find comfort and strength in all the beautiful memories in the days ahead. Thinking of you and keeping you in our prayers. Dale and Diane Rohe

Dale and Diane Rohe – January 02 2015 at 10:32 AM

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sincere thoughts for pat, john, and all their family .the schoeppner family and Vernon, all this family has been a special part of our life , we cherish the memories of all the family gatherings we have shared with them......you are all in our thoughts and love during this sad time...even though we are not able to be with you , our prayers that leonette now has peace too, god bless her, she was a beautiful caring lady. sincerely, bill & jean Snyder Alamo, texas

jean snyder – January 02 2015 at 10:27 PM

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