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.

Paul Raymond Fay, 76 of Clermont, Iowa and formerly of Churdan, died early Monday morning, April 21, 2025 in West Union, Iowa.

On Saturday, June 28th, visitation and gathering at St. Patrick’s Church Cedar Cemetery near Churdan (449 E Ave, Churdan, IA 50050) will happen from 1:00-3:00. Then, at 3:00, there will be a brief Rosary service.

Paul Raymond Fay was born on April 30, 1948 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll, the first child of Raymond Henry Fay and Berniece Ester (Lynch) Fay.

Paul graduated with the Class of 1966 from Paton-Churdan High School. He married
Mary Celia (Bush) Fay on December 27, 1969 in Rochester, MN. They were blessed with
three children, Anna Marie, John Paul, and Beth Ellyn.

Paul and Mary farmed while he was working as a subcontractor for many businesses. The
majority of Paul’s career was spent installing and maintaining telephone equipment,
splicing cable, and providing technical support. Through the years, Paul was employed
by Teleconnect, MCI/World Com, and Verizon. Before retiring, Paul was a Telco
Administrator of three call centers, one in Cedar Rapids, IA, one in Iowa City, IA, and the other in Boston and Towson, MA. As administrator he oversaw the peripherals connected to the inbound call switch for 1,350 employees.

Paul loved photography, bicycling, watching and feeding birds, gardening, farming (especially with red tractors), traveling, and watching his grandchildren’s activities and sporting events of all kinds!

Paul was a Boy scout Leader and lifetime member of the Catholic Church.

Left to cherish his memory include his children: Anna Fay of Las Vegas, NV, John Fay of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Beth (Justin) Trulson of Janesville, IA; his grandchildren: Taylor Fay, Ellyn Trulson and Alex Trulson; siblings: sister Bernie (Dick) Henrich of Carroll, IA, brother, Richard Fay of Churdan, IA, sisters-in-law Janette Stromley of Northfield, MN, Barb Bush of Spring Valley, MN, brothers-in-law Dale Bush of Grand Meadow, MN, Harry Meyer of Byron, MN, and Glen (Barb) Bush of Tripoli, IA; as well as his special friend, Julie Larson of Clermont, IA.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brother Dwight Fay, sisters-in-law Kathy
Fay (wife of Richard), Carol (Bush) Meyer, and brothers-in-law Leslie Bush, Jerry Bush,
and Gary Stromley.

A brief graveside service and interment will be held at the Garden of Reflection at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, IA on June 27th at 2:00 pm [Google Maps – Cedar Memorial]. Following, a gathering will be held at the ITC Pavilion in Noelridge park from 2:30-4:30 for visitation [Google Maps – ITC Pavilion].

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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