Norma Jean Pudenz

07/26/1935 –

11/04/2009

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.

Norma Jean Pudenz, age 74, of Carroll, Iowa, died Wednesday evening, November 4, 2009, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Monday, November 9, 2009, at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Timothy Johnson. The casket will be taken to the church at 8:30 A.M. Monday to lie in state until the time of the funeral mass. Lectors will be grandchildren, Keith Daniel and Gina Lehman. Gift Bearers will be grandchildren, Stephanie Pudenz, Sarah Pudenz, Billy Pudenz, Thomas Peterson, Holly Peterson, and Alyssa Schoneboom. Eucharistic Ministers will be Cheryl Lychwick and Vicki Boes. Casket Bearers will be grandsons, Keith Daniel, Adam Daniel, Greg Daniel, Nathan Daniel, Dan Pudenz, Ryan Schoneboom, and Joshua Heuton. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. Sunday. A rosary will be prayed at 4 P.M. Sunday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Sunday by Holy Spirit Parish. Memorials may be left at the funeral home or church for St. Anthony Hospice. Mrs. Pudenz was born on July 26, 1935, at Iowa City, Iowa, the daughter of George and Sadie (Shupitor) Bartlett. Her mother died shortly following her birth and she made her home with her aunts and uncles Lydia and Theodore Bundt in Wall Lake and Katie and Charles Westcott in Nemaha. Jean graduated from Wall Lake High School in 1953 and then worked for Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company in Omaha. On November 23, 1954, she was married to Leon Pudenz at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll with Father Arthur Poeckes officiating. Following their marriage the couple lived in Carroll and Jean worked for Spurgeon’s Department Store until they moved southeast of Auburn where they farmed and raised their family. In 1991 they moved to their acreage near Carroll and spent the winters in Mesa, Arizona. She was a member of Holy Spirit Parish and Parish Ladies Guild. Family gatherings were very important to Jean and she enjoyed her grandchildren, photography, flowers, cooking and baking, and playing cards. Survivors include her husband, Leon Pudenz of Carroll; her children, Darrell Pudenz and his wife Sandy of Carroll, Debra Daniel and her husband Michael of Lohrville, Donna Pudenz of Carroll, Joyce Peterson and her husband Mark of Lenexa, Kansas, Janine Pudenz and her fiancé Carl Van Gorp of Elkhart, and Tom Pudenz and his wife Diane of Carroll; fourteen grandchildren; two great grandchildren; her brother, Harold Bartlett and his wife Mavis of Wall Lake; a sister-in-law, LaVona Bartlett of Wall Lake; and a life long special friend, Shirley Higgins and her husband Bob of Sac City. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Robert, Vryl, and George Bartlett; a sister-in-law, Delores Bartlett; and by her father and mother-in-law, William and Teresa Pudenz.

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

Dear Uncle Leon, I am sorry that I could not be with you and the family to celebrate Aunt Jeans life. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Kieran and I remember our trip to Arizona to see you both with the fondest memories. Sally and Donna were there too! it was a great trip. I still remember coming to the farm in the summers, when I was little (littler)I am still pretty little. Those memories will live with me forever, I will never forget them, they are some of the happiest days of my life. All my Love Patty

Patty Daly – November 08 2009 at 11:07 AM

As far away as we are, you both have been a great part of our lives and will continue to be everyday. I am not one for words and I can only try to express my sorrow for your loss Leon. We will pray for you in your time of need, and we wish we could be there for you. We love you both. I know the family you have will support you with all there love as well. Love Johnny,Arlene,John and Maggie. P.S. Thank you for all you guys have done.

John & Arlene Mcginnis – November 08 2009 at 10:59 AM

Theodore Martin Erdman – November 05 2009 at 8:17 PM

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