Mildred H. “Shorty” Schmitz

02/20/1919 –
05/20/2010

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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.

Mildred “Shorty” Schmitz, age 91, of Carroll, Iowa, and formerly of Rockwell City and Grinnell, died Thursday evening, May 20, 2010, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M., Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at St. Mary Catholic Church, 1002 Broad St., Grinnell, Iowa 50112. The Celebrant will be Father Nicholas Adam. Lector will be a granddaughter, Jennifer Sibenaller. Gift Bearers will be great grandchildren, Will Schmitz, Slade Sibenaller, and Morgan Stork. A eulogy will be delivered by a son, Richard Schmitz. Eucharistic Ministers will be Jim Stork and Jane Schmitz. Music will be by St. Mary Choir with John Landkamer as organist. Casket Bearers will be grandchildren, Jeff Stork, Jennifer Sibenaller, Tony Schmitz, Jamie Stork, Adam Schmitz, Betsy McCarren, Laurie Schmitz, Sarah Smith, and Rachael Schmitz. Burial will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will begin at 10 A.M. Tuesday at St. Mary Church and last until the time of the funeral mass. The Sharp Funeral Home of Carroll is in charge of funeral arrangements. Mildred was born on February 20, 1919, at Grinnell, Iowa, the daughter of Louis and Catherine (Devereux) Higdon. She grew up in the Grinnell community and graduated from high school in Victor. On April 2, 1945, she was married to Paul Schmitz at St. Mary Church in Grinnell. The couple lived in Grinnell until 1959 when they moved to Rockwell City. Mildred was a homemaker and has lived in Carroll since February 2010. She was a former member of St. Francis Parish and Parish Altar Society at Rockwell City. Mildred enjoyed playing golf, playing cards, and socializing with her family and friends. Survivors include her daughter, Jane Stork and husband Jim of Carroll; sons, Dennis Schmitz and wife Roxie of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Sam Schmitz and Susan Cull of Rockford, Illinois, and Richard Schmitz and wife Jane of Pittsburgh, Penn.; her grandchildren, Jeff Stork, Jennifer Sibenaller and husband Brian, Jamie Stork and wife Tina, Adam Schmitz and Catherine Fiss, Laurie Schmitz and Terri Harnell, Tony Schmitz and wife Katie, Betsy McCarren and husband Mike, Sarah Smith and husband Dustin, and Rachael Schmitz; eight great grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Mary Comerford of Grinnell, Ruth Higdon of Grinnell, and Eileen Schmitz of Des Moines. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul Schmitz, in September 1987; her parents; a son, Daniel Schmitz, in infancy; her brothers, James, Frank, John, and Joseph Higdon; and sisters, Sister Annette Higdon, Sister Louise Higdon, and Elizabeth Goreham.

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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Hello to the Shorty Schmitz family; I didn't realize just how big the family actually is until I read the obituary! Shorty was such a big part of Rockwell City and the surrounding community -- it's hard to see her and those of her generation move on. My condolences. Kindest regards, Jane (and son Kevin Guzman)

Jane Harding Guzman – May 27 2010 at 3:36 PM

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I will always treasure knowing you and having you for a mother-in-law. Love always, Michelle

Michelle Schmitz – May 23 2010 at 4:52 PM

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