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.

Raymond Berger, age 76, of Carroll, Iowa, died Saturday, July 12, 2008, at his residence of an apparent heart condition. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 A.M., Thursday, July 17, 2008, at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Father Timothy Schott. Con-celebrants will be Father Joe Dillinger and Father Robert Gralapp. Homilist will be Father Joe Dillinger. Assisting will be Deacon Bob Lenz. Lector will be Clete Windschitl. Gift Bearers will be Maddy Lenz, Hannah Wordekemper, and Megan Wordekemper. Casket Bearers will be Darren Berger, Jeremy Riesselman, Eric Riesselman, Jacob Wordekemper, Roger Berger, and Ron Berger. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 2:30 P.M. Wednesday. A rosary will be prayed at 3 P.M. Wednesday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Wednesday by St. Lawrence Parish. In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the funeral home or church in Mr. Berger’s name. Mr. Berger was born on July 23, 1931, at Willey, Iowa, the son of George and Theresia (Brincks) Berger. He attended St. Mary School at Willey and Annunciation Catholic School in Coon Rapids and was “the only kid in the third grade that could shave”. On July 26, 1958, he was married to Virginia Carpenter at Annunciation Catholic Church in Coon Rapids. Mr. Berger farmed in the Coon Rapids area and then farmed and did custom combining in the Glidden, Lidderdale, and Vail communities until his retirement in 1990. The Berger’s moved to their home in Carroll in 1994. He was a member of St. Lawrence Parish and enjoyed going to daily Mass, golfing, hunting, hand fishing, and Kick the Can. Survivors include his wife, Virginia Berger of Carroll; children, Dale Berger of Humboldt, Mary Riesselman and her husband John of Halbur, Don Berger of Carroll, Lisa Wordekemper and her husband Dean of Carroll, Ann Lenz and her husband Doug of Omaha, Nebr., David Berger of Costa Rica, Deb Del Chiaro and her husband Steve of Burlingame, Calif., Sara Wordekemper and her husband Jerry of West Point, Nebr., Dan Berger and his special friend Erin Kline of Woodword, Monica Berger of Thornton, Colo., Joan Christensen and her husband Dr. Michael of Bridgeport, Nebr., and Emily Berger and her special friend Garrett Hill of Des Moines; 18 grandchildren; brother, Edmund Berger and his wife LaVonne of Lidderdale; sisters, Marie Riesberg of Carroll, Leona Seidl of Coon Rapids, Lucille Berger of Carroll, Frances Meiners and her husband Albert of Coon Rapids, and Bernice Bluml and her husband Elmer of Carroll; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy Berger of Lohrville, Viola Berger of Carroll, Marie Leiting and her husband Denis of Carroll, Gary Carpenter and his wife Marilyn of Coon Rapids, Bill Carpenter and his wife Rosie of Chariton, Carol Richards of Coon Rapids, and Sandra Burns and her husband Bob of Camas, Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Adam Andrew Riesselman; brothers, Joseph and Alvin Berger; and father and mother-in-law, George and Ruth Carpenter.

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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To Maddy Lenz and Family, I am so, so, sorry about your grandpa. I know words can't fully heal your pain, but I am praying for your family everyday. I have empathy for you and I know how it feels to lose a grandparent. Ray is in heaven for sure. Thank you for being there for me when I lost Grandma Patti. I am here for you now. See you Wednesday. I love you! From Calla Kessler

Calla Kessler – July 15 2008 at 11:07 AM

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