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.

Leroy Edgar Koster, 85 of Breda, died Friday, March 1, 2019 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Fr. Mark Stoll. Music will be by Marilyn Hundling and the St. Bernard’s Choir. Lectors for the funeral mass will be: Bob Wiederien, Annette Koster and Andy Koster. Gift Bearers will be: Lori Koster, Karen Koster, and Shery Koster. Eucharistic Ministers will be: Chris Koster, Nicky Wiederien, and Jean Grote. Casket Bearers will be: Derik Koster, Brian Koster, Matt Koster, Josh Wiederien, Mike Lewis, and Zach Koster. Burial will be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Breda with military honors conducted by the Breda American Legion.
Friends may call at St. Bernard’s Church in Breda after 4 p.m. on Monday where there will be a rosary at 5 p.m. by the Carroll Knights of Columbus and a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume at St. Bernard’s Church in Breda on Tuesday from 1-1:45 p.m.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Breda and online condolences may be left for Leroy’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Leroy Edgar Koster was born on July 25, 1933 at Carroll, Iowa the son of William and Matilda (Grabner) Koster. He grew up on the family farm near Breda and attended St. Bernard’s School. Leroy served in the United States Army from 1954-1959 as an Army Medical Corpsman. On April 8, 1961 he was united in marriage to Joanell Blum at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Wall Lake, Iowa. The couple made their home southwest of Breda where they were blessed with four sons and two daughters. Leroy’s favorite pastimes were cheering on his children and grandchildren at their sporting events, fishing, hunting, watching westerns and rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a member of the Carroll Knights of Columbus, Breda American Legion, and St. Bernard’s Parish.
Left to celebrate his life is his wife of 57 years, Joanell Koster of Breda; his children: Kevin Koster, SGT- Ret. and his wife Annette of Breda, Eileen Lewis and her husband Mark of Cambridge, Chris Koster and his wife Karen of Breda, Tim Koster, SFC – Ret. and his wife Shery of Silverhill, AL, and Nicky Wiederien and her husband Bob, LCDR-Ret. of Ocean Springs, MS; his daughter-in-law, Lori Koster of Breda; 19 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; his sisters: Maxine (Marv) Heinrichs of Conroy, MN, Ruth (Clete) Heinrichs of Marshalltown; his brother, Roger Koster of Elkader; his sisters-in-law, Delores Koster of Carroll, Lois Cave of Colorado Springs, CO, and Mary Schroeder of Wall Lake; as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended relatives.
Leroy was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Scott Koster; his son-in-law, Ken Young; his siblings: William and Loretta Koster, Velma and Robert Blum, Doyle and Bernice Koster, Walt and Viola Koster, Kermit and Elsie Koster, and Don Koster; and his sister-in-law, Darlene Koster.

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 ~ Breda, Iowa

102 S 5th St, Breda, IA, 51436

712-673-2828

[email protected]

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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The Cletus and Ruth Heinrichs Family purchased the Enchanted Cottage for the family of Leroy Koster.

The Cletus and Ruth Heinrichs Family – March 02 2019 at 2:00 PM

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Dad introduced me to LeRoy at Twilight Acres and over numerous meals, we enjoyed this thoughtful, educated man. It was a pleasure to have met him!

Sue Kroeger Snodgrass – June 18 2019 at 2:42 PM

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Lit a candle in memory of Leroy Koster

Nicky Wiederien – May 31 2019 at 9:32 PM

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Lit a candle in memory of Leroy Koster

Nicky Wiederien – March 09 2019 at 11:53 PM

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Chuck Cave purchased the Peaceful White Lilies Basket for the family of Leroy Koster.

Chuck Cave – March 05 2019 at 9:21 AM

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