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.

Marita Bruning, age 87, of Breda, Iowa, died Sunday, March 10, 2024, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 14, 2024 at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Fr. Terry Roder. Mass Servers will be Owen Masching, and Morgan Masching. Music will be by Marilyn Hundling and the St. Bernards Choir with Jeffrey Bruning as soloist. Lectors will be Addison Eischeid and Kaleb Bruning. Gift Bearers will be Zoe Bruning, Hayden Eischeid and Hudson Eischeid, McKinlee Bruning, Melodee Bruning, Evander Bruning, Avery Herbolsheimer. Eucharistic Minister will be Mary Snyder. Casket Bearers will be Marita’s grandchildren: Jonathon Bruning, Eric Bruning, Jeffrey Bruning, Justin Bruning, Zachary Bruning, Ali Eischeid and John Herbolsheimer. Burial will be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Breda. The Carroll Catholic Daughters of the America’s and Breda American Legion Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.

Visitation will be held from 5-6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, at St. Bernard’s Church in Breda. A Carroll Catholic Daughters of the Americas Rosary will be prayed at 6:30p. Additional viewing will be held from 9:30-10:15 a.m. Thursday at the church.

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

Marita was born October 11, 1936 at Carroll, the daughter of Leo and Florence (Mueggenberg) Nieland. She graduated from St. Bernard High School in 1954 and on Sept. 1, 1956 married Delmar Bruning at St. Bernard’s Church in Breda. She became employed at Kuker Clinic in Carroll until Delmar needed her assistance as bookkeeper at Delmar’s Standard Service in Breda. In 1982 she became co-owner of Breda Country Store and will always be remembered for her infamous long john’s, breakfast boats and desserts of every kind as Marita loved to bake. In 2003 she sold the store and worked part-time at the Breda Golf course for many years. She enjoyed playing cards, golfing, and socializing. However, her love for her family took precedence over everything.

She was a member of St. Bernard Parish, Breda Catholic Order of Foresters, and St. Bernard Ladies Guild, American Legion Auxiliary.

Survivors include her children: Dean and his wife Bev of Breda, Mary Jo Schettler and her husband Ken of Breda, and Dan and his wife Cindy of Lake View, seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Dona Mae Neu of Rocklin, Calif. and many nieces and nephews.

Marita was preceded in death by her spouse, Delmar Bruning who died in 2010, her parents Leo and Florence Nieland, mother-in-law and father-in-law Lawrence and Laura Bruning; siblings: Norman (Gladys) Nieland, Melvin (Donita) Nieland, Leo (Dorothy) Nieland, and brother-in-law, Jerome Neu.

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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Lit a candle in memory of Marita Bruning

Bonnie Malm – March 11 2024 at 5:52 PM

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I was lucky enough to work for Marita and Delmar at the Breda Country Store while in high school. It was a fun place to work, and she was a great person to work for. I am very sorry to hear of her passing, she will be missed by many!

Ben Anthofer – March 25 2024 at 12:26 PM

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Landon & Melanie Carda and family purchased the Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum for the family of Marita Bruning.

Landon & Melanie Carda and family – March 13 2024 at 5:54 PM

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Larry Pudenz purchased the Sweet Tenderness for the family of Marita Bruning.

Larry Pudenz – March 13 2024 at 3:06 PM

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Small Garden Dish was purchased for the family of Marita Bruning.

Comment #49616825 – March 12 2024 at 5:42 PM

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