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.

Patty Jo Gehling, age 68, of Carroll died Sunday, January 30, 2022, at her home in Carroll surrounded by her loving family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Friday, February 4, 2022 at St. John Paul II Parish – Holy Spirit Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Music will be by Kathy Halbur and Kathleen Macke. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Lauren Gehling, Katelynn Gehling, and Hadley Daniel. Gift Bearers will be Olivia Gehling, Lovelyn Burge, Chloe Venteicher, Zach Gehling, Collin Venteicher, Ella Daniel, Jasmine Gehling, Ava Venteicher, Andrew Gehling, and Amelia Daniel. Eucharistic Minister will be Marcia Schaefer. Casket Bearers will be Steve Bedford, Tom Grote, Luke Olberding, Scott Rosener, Joe Rosener, Kevin Sailer, John Vonnahme, Joe Vonnahme. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. Additional visitation will be held from 10-10:45 a.m. on Friday at the church. 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 Patty’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Patty was born on October 15, 1953, in Carroll, Iowa to Paul and Luella (Bedford) Grote. She grew up in the Mt. Carmel Community, attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in 1971, and then attended Secretarial School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Patty married Dennis Gehling on September 23, 1972, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Mt. Carmel. From this union they were blessed with six children Jason, Ryan, Nicholas, Holly, Melanie, and Lindsey.
They made their home on a farm southwest of Willey, Iowa and were members of St. Mary’s Parish in Willey for several years.
Patty spent several years at home caring for her children and helping on the family farm before going to work for Carroll Community School District as a teacher assistant with special needs children for 21 years. Patty also worked for Family Resource Center in Carroll, working with special needs children for several years, who she loved dearly.
Patty was an amazing baker and shared her talent with others at the Carroll Farmers Market for several years. She also did holiday baking for others and had a true gift for crafting.
Patty was a loving mother and grandmother. She enjoyed spending time with her family and attending her grandchildren’s activities, instilling her love of baking, sharing her passion for reading, and her love of children’s books with her grandchildren. Patty loved to play bingo at her family gatherings making sure everyone was a winner.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Dennis Gehling of Carroll, children, Jason (Tina) Gehling of Roselle, Ryan (Gale) Gehling of Ames, Holly (Jamie) Venteicher of Carroll, Melanie (Rusty) Daniel of Oswego, IL, and Lindsey Gehling of Denison, 12 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild – Olivia Gehling and Lovelyn Burge, Chloe Venteicher, Zach Gehling, Collin Venteicher, Ella Daniel, Jasmine Gehling, Ava Venteicher, Lauren Gehling, Hadley Daniel, Katelynn Gehling, Andrew Gehling, and Amelia Daniel. Also surviving are her sister and stepbrothers, Karen (John) Sadwith of Denver, CO, Marvin Glass of Carroll, Joe (Jane) Glass of Cedar Rapids, Rick (Terri) Glass of Carroll, Paul (Denise) Glass of Carroll. Her in laws Coryls Gehling of Omaha, NE, Sharon (Charlie) Coulter of St, Louis, MO, Jackie (Randy) Pudenz of Carroll, Mark (Stacey) Gehling of Carroll, Marcia (Jeff Scott) Schaefer of Wall Lake, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews.
Patty was preceded in death by her parents Paul and Luella Grote, stepmother Irma Grote, infant son Nicholas in 1978, and granddaughter Samantha Gehling. She was also preceded in death by her mother-in-law Jean Gehling, father-in-law Frank Gehling, brother-in-law Jerry Gehling, and brother-in-law Dale Schaefer and a brother in infancy, Gerard.

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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From the Jack and Doreen Grote Family purchased the Lovely One Spathiphyllum Plant for the family of Patty Gehling.

From the Jack and Doreen Grote Family – February 01 2022 at 3:03 PM

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Arrive in Style was purchased for the family of Patty Gehling.

Comment #36535333 – February 03 2022 at 10:35 AM

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My deepest sympathy to Denny and his family, so sorry for your loss

Peggy Cain – February 03 2022 at 8:57 AM

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Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum was purchased for the family of Patty Gehling.

Comment #36532128 – February 02 2022 at 8:17 PM

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Our sympathies to the whole Family. Hugs to Melanie. Love you Bo and Amy Larrington

Amy Larrington – February 02 2022 at 7:50 PM

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