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.

Mae Knobbe, age 98, died on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll, Iowa.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 29, 2024, at St John Paul II Parish – St Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be by Kathy Halbur. Lectors will be John Venner and Mark Reiter. Gift Bearers will be Joseph DeLong, Katie Zick, Jacob Venner and Daniel Reiter. Eucharistic Minister will be Tom Venner. Casket Bearers will be Mae’s grandchildren: Joseph DeLong, David DeLong, Steven DeLong, James Knobbe, John Venner, Jacob Venner, Katie Zick, Blake Knobbe, Mark Reiter and Daniel Reiter. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. The St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.

Visitation will be held from 5-7p.m. on Wednesday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, a Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Thursday morning where visitation will resume from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.

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

Mae was born November 20, 1925, the daughter of Arthur and Marguerite (Grote) Derner at Auburn, Iowa. She attended grade school at Sac No 4 rural Auburn. In 1939 the family moved to Breda, Iowa where she entered and graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1943. Upon graduation she entered St. Anthony School of Nursing in Carroll, graduating with an R.N. degree in 1946. She was employed by St. Anthony Hospital following graduation for three years.

On April 21, 1949, Mae and Mark Knobbe were united in marriage at St. Bernard Church in Breda, Iowa with the Reverand E. L. Schleyer as the celebrant.

In 1950 Mark and Mae moved to a farm near Auburn, Iowa. Mae enjoyed rural living, gardening, cooking, sewing, quilting, and the neighborhood. In 1974 she returned to nursing as a night nurse at Shady Oaks Nursing Home, Lake City, Iowa, and continued for thirteen years.

In 1985 they moved to their home in Carroll and became members of St. Lawrence parish. In retirement, Mae enjoyed her part in organizations, the St. Lawrence Church Guild and funeral choir, St. Anthony Nurses Alumni Association, St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary and the Breda American Legion Auxiliary.

Mae loved the time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed traveling, playing cards, family reunions, and last but not least, sing-alongs at nursing homes.

Survivors include her five children: Jean and her husband Tom DeLong of Oakwood, Ohio; Dr. Tom Knobbe of Cincinnati, Ohio, Julie and her husband Tom Venner of Boone, Iowa, Tony Knobbe and his wife Lorene of Davenport, Iowa, and Nora and her husband Terry Reiter of Davenport, Iowa. Mae is also survived by 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mae is survived by sisters Eileen Bruning, Ione Schloegel, Annette Ratigan; brothers Eugene Derner and his wife Vera, Don Derner and his wife Peggy and Deb Derner and in-laws: Joan Heiman, Edna Knobbe, Lucy Wolterman, Virgina Knobbe, Barbara McCabe, and Karen and Frank Eason. Mae is also survived by many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.

Mae is preceded in death by her husband Mark Knobbe, her parents Arthur and Marguerite Derner, siblings and in-laws; Zeta and Ray Glass, Alma Derner, Glenn Bruning, Collett and Bob Meyers, Frank Schloegel, Jim and Lollie Derner, Bob Ratigan, and Bill Derner, Felicitas and Marcell Polking, MaryAnn and Dan McGillicuddy, Ed Heiman, Eugene Schwarzkopf, Linus Knobbe, Joe Wolterman, Mello and Irma Knobbe, Raphael Knobbe, Rita and Larry Tompkins, Ruth and Tom Feldmann, and Tom McCabe.

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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Tony, Marcia and I are so sorry for your loss. The entire Knobbe family are in our prayers

Mark Olson – February 25 2024 at 9:38 AM

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Mark and I extend sincere sympathy to all of Mae’s family. She was such a gentle and caring woman. Her smile could light up a room. Barb & Mark Hoffman

Barb Hoffman – February 25 2024 at 1:32 PM

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I had the privilege of meeting Mae while working at SunnyBrook in Carroll. I shouldn’t have had a favorite but Mae was my favorite. I truly loved her like family. She gave me wonderful advice as I continued through nursing school. I haven’t seen her for about 4 years but I think about her often. She is one of those people that I will carry with the rest of my life. I’m so sorry for your families loss!

Jewel – February 25 2024 at 5:21 PM

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Our thoughts and prayers are with the Knobbe Family. She was a special lady and made the best cinnamon rolls! Jane (DeLong) and Mike Bowman

Jane Bowman – February 25 2024 at 5:54 PM

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My condolences to All My cousins of Aunt Mae. Nothing but great memories of your sweet Mom and summers on the farm. RIP Aunt Mae! Say Hi to Uncle Mark for Me

Peggy Wehrle – February 25 2024 at 10:39 PM

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