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 Louis Rupiper, 95, of Carroll entered into eternal rest on Thursday, January 18, 2024 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll surrounded by his family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024 at St. Lawrence Church – St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Patrick Behm. Con-Celebrants Fr. Brian Feller, Fr. Merlin Schrad, and Fr. Allan Reicks. Music will be by Kathy Halbur, Kathleen Macke, Emily Eichelberger, Piper Blackledge and Megan Werden. Mass Servers will be Max Schon, Dylan Schon and Charlie Schreck. Lectors will be Jessica Hultquist, Shelly Schreck and Mike Schon. Gift bearers will be Katie Theulen, Lauren Hope, Meredith Onken and Madison Werden. Casket bearers will be LeRoy’s grandsons: Cole Rupiper, Bob Muhlbauer, Tony Schon, Andy Glass, Ross Rupiper, Nate Rupiper, Mark Loeffelholz, Evan Fay, Chase Werden and Cooper Blackledge. Honorary casket bearers will be LeRoy’s grandchildren: Jessica Hultquist, Jeff Muhlbauer, Shelly Schreck, Mike Muhlbauer, Kristi Macke, Mike Schon, Keith Schon, Scott Schon, Kim Rohe, Jon Schon, Josh Schon, Eric Glass, Katie Theulen, KelLee Rupiper, Lauren Hope, Sara Palinski, Matt Loeffelholz, Zach Loeffelholz, Emily Eichelberger, Elliott Fay, Meredith Onken, Madison Werden and Piper Blackledge. Private family burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll following the funeral mass.
Visitation will be held from 4-6:30 p.m. on Thursday January 25, 2024 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a Christian Wake Service at 6:30 p.m. There will be no public visitation prior to the Funeral Mass on Friday at the church. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church and will be forwarded to various charities and organizations at the family’s request. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for LeRoy’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
LeRoy Louis Rupiper was born on March 28, 1928. He was the son of Louis and Carrie (Hugeback) Rupiper. He attended Holy Angels School in Roselle through eighth grade. On September 14, 1948, LeRoy was united in holy matrimony to Patricia Williams at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll. Together they made their home and raised 10 children on a farm outside of Roselle, Iowa and later moved to Carroll. LeRoy and Patricia celebrated 75 years of marriage in 2023. LeRoy held many jobs during his lifetime, including farming, custom hay baling, sheep shearing and wool buying with his brother Wayne, custom corn shelling, steel bin construction, working for Garst and Thomas, selling railroad ties, the salvage business for grain and lumber, and owning, operating and entertaining others at his bar – 5th Street Station in Carroll.
“Roy Boy” as he was known to many was a very social person; he never knew a stranger. He loved visiting with anyone that would stop by, playing the spoons, winning a game of euchre, and listening to his favorite polka artist, Mollie B. He was always so happy to see family when they came to visit him. LeRoy had the best attitude for life, and he loved having fun.
LeRoy is survived by his children: Rick (Deb) of Honey Creek, IA; Jeannine (Rich) Muhlbauer of Carroll, IA; Lori (Dale) Schon of Willey, IA; Denise (Paul) Glass of Urbandale, IA; daughter-in-law Diane Rupiper of Roselle, IA; Brian (Cindy) Rupiper of Germantown, TN; Lisa (Danny) Loeffelholz of Omaha, NE; Julie (Bob Fox) Fay of Elkhorn, NE; Renee (Dave) Anderson of Carroll, IA; Paula (James) Blackledge of Elkhorn, NE; 33 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren; his sister-in-law Alice “Jo” Connor, of Omaha, NE; and many nieces, nephews and other extended relatives and friends.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, in December 2023; his son Kevin, in August 2023; parents Louis and Carrie Rupiper; brother and sister-in-law Wayne and Alice Rupiper; his father-in-law Elvin Williams; stepfather and mother-in-law Lyle and Alvira (Spurgeon) Hutchinson; brother-in-law Mike Williams; and brother-in-law Ray Connor.
The Rupiper family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Orchard View, St. Anthony Regional Hospital and Nursing Home and Drs. Perkins, Ulveling, and Feigofsky for the special care and compassion they provided LeRoy, especially during his final days.

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.

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Tribute Wall

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Ethan J. planted a Memorial Tree in honor of LeRoy Rupiper.

Ethan J. – January 22 2024 at 8:38 PM

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Stanley Rupiper planted a Memorial Tree in honor of LeRoy Rupiper.

Stanley Rupiper – January 25 2024 at 4:25 PM

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BUD TERBELL planted a Memorial Tree in honor of LeRoy Rupiper.

BUD TERBELL – January 25 2024 at 9:29 AM

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Jason & Shelby Pudenz and girls planted a Memorial Tree in honor of LeRoy Rupiper.

Jason & Shelby Pudenz and girls – January 24 2024 at 10:21 PM

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Your Family at Bridon USA planted a Memorial Tree in honor of LeRoy Rupiper.

Your Family at Bridon USA – January 23 2024 at 6:29 PM

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