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.

Maxine Busche, age 93, of Carroll, died Sunday, January 19, 2020 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, January 25, 2020 at St. John Paul II Parish – Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Music will be by Jane Heithoff and the Holy Spirit Choir. Mass Server will be Tristan Janson. Lector will be Dani Schultes. Gift Bearers will be Heidi Jo Sztanko, Jessica Kennelly, Sara Neil, and Dani Schultes. Eucharistic Minister will be Peg Scheidt. Casket Bearers will be Grant Schultes, Nolan Schultes, Taveon Fairchild, Colton Fairchild, Scott Busche, Maxwell Busche, and Alex Busche. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. The St. Anthony Hospital Auxiliary will form an honor guard for the funeral mass.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 4 p.m. on Friday, where there will be a rosary prayed at 5 p.m., followed by a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m.

The casket will be moved to Holy Spirit Church on Saturday morning where visitation will continue from 9 until 9:45 a.m.

In Lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Kuemper Catholic School Foundation, or St. John Paul II Parish.

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

Anna Maxine, the daughter of Bernard and Martha (Hebig) Schenkelberg, was born on January 12, 1927 in Wilmont, Minnesota. She was baptized at St. Killian Catholic Church in Wilmont. At a young age her family moved to Carroll, Iowa. She grew up in Carroll, and graduated from St. Angela’s Academy in 1944.

Maxine began working at Northwestern Bell as a telephone operator. On August 2, 1948 she was united marriage to Melvin Busche at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll by the Rev. Lambert Schenkelberg. Maxine was a devoted homemaker, while continuing to work for Northwestern Bell until its closing in 1981. After its closing Maxine held various jobs including, The Reader’s Den, Barney’s Deli, and Kuemper School System Food Service.

Maxine volunteered for the St. Anthony Auxiliary in her retirement, and received the 2009 Volunteer of the Year Award, she also assisted with Pastoral Care at St. Anthony Hospital. She was a member of Holy Spirit Parish in Carroll, serving on the ladies guild as well as a Eucharistic Minister. Maxine also served on the Kuemper Catholic School Board. Most of all Maxine was very active with the Carroll American Legion Auxiliary holding several offices including Poppy Chairperson until the Carroll Chapter closed. She also volunteered with R.S.V.P., and New Hope Village in Carroll. In her free time she enjoyed needlework, creating many “stitcheries” announcing the birth of each grandchild, as well as Christmas Ornaments each year. She also enjoyed reading, until her eyesight started to fail due to Macular Degeneration, but she still managed to work on many jigsaw puzzles. Maxine will be remember for being a wonderful mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Survivors include her 8 children: Martha (Joel) Swigart of Des Moines, Gary (Judi) Busche of Oxford, Becky (Denny) Neubauer of Rockford, IL, Jeff (Shirley) Busche of DeSoto, KS, Bob (Sandy) Busche of Mason City, Ben (Carol) Busche of Highlands Ranch, CO, Melissa (Bill) Schultes of Dedham, Tami (Clif) Fairchild of Ankeny; 20 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren and 1 more on the way; a sister Elizabeth (Bitsy) Schroeder of Urbandale, a brother Mike (Alice) Schenkelberg of Carroll; sisters-in-law, Jane Schenkelberg of Gurnee, IL, Helen Quinn of Carroll, as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

Maxine was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Melvin on June 4, 2003; grandson: Chad Swigart, a great-granddaughter: Hope Kennelly; sisters: Bernice (Howard) Brodt, Janet (Joel) Storry; brothers: Delvin (Mary Rita) Schenkelberg, Robert Schenkelberg; brother-in-law: Clare Schroeder; parents-in-law George and Anna (Skalla) Busche; sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law. Clara (Mel) Simon, Agnes (George) Neil, Florence (Del) Farrell, George (Elayne) Busche, and Bob Quinn.

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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Maxine was a great neighbor, and had such a great smile. Our thought and prayers are with the family. Susie, Spencer, and Molly Schrader

Susie Schrader – January 21 2020 at 2:33 PM

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Maxine was always ready to go to coffee. Away she would go in that little mini coupe.A great lady . Joan Shymanski

joan Shymanski – January 21 2020 at 7:04 PM

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To a beautiful lady inside and out. Her heart was/is always full of so much love and caring for the people in her life. I am Blessed to be in her life. I am sure she is keeping an eye on all her kids, grand-kids and people she loved. To her family, you are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Annette T Storesund – January 22 2020 at 12:53 PM

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To the entire Busche Family, Maribeth and I would like to extend our condolences and let you know you will all be in our thoughts and prayers. Mr. and Mrs. Busche were the best extended parents a guy could ever want while finding his way through those High School years They were always so welcoming to all of us. They were just extremely generous and special people. Mrs. Busche was an absolutely wonderful lady too. God Speed Mrs. Busche. Matt D. Whaley

Matt D. Whaley – January 23 2020 at 10:24 AM

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Busche family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you now and in the days ahead. Maxine was a bright light in Carroll County and important to our Relay For Life efforts. She always had a smile and brought her best self to share with her Relay friends. I will miss her genuine smile and dedication to others. She was one of a kind. Sincerely, Wes & CJ Niles

Wes & CJ Niles – January 26 2020 at 10:30 AM

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