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.

The direct like to the livestream of the funeral mass can be found by clicking here https://youtu.be/St0pAM3hKH0
Raymond J. Brincks, 94 of Carroll, died Thursday, December 9, 2021, at St. Anthony Regional Hospital, surrounded by family.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, December 14, 2021, at St. John Paul II Parish – St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Merlin Schrad. Concelebrant will be Fr. Craig Collison. Music will be by Marcy Anderson, Jake Gute and Sherry Loughran. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Ray’s granddaughters Heather Keenan and Lindsey Dadourian. Gift Bearers will be Ray’s great-granddaughters Kyndall Keenan, Hannah Presley, Emerson Presley, and Harper Brincks. Casket Bearers will be Ray’s grandchildren Brad Presley, Lance Presley, Heather Keenan, John Brincks, Matt Brincks, Sarah Claiborne, Bryce Brincks, Bret Brincks, Lindsey Dadourian, and Austin Shelp. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Monday at St. Lawrence Church Collison Hall. Additional visitation, without greeting the family will be held one hour prior to the funeral mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Ray’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony Foundation in Ray’s memory.
A son of Joseph and Katherine (Hoffman), Ray was born on September 18, 1927, near Willey, Iowa. He attended St. Mary’s elementary school in Willey, and he graduated from Carroll High School at the age of 16 in 1944.
Ray was a lifelong farmer, but he set out on his own in Audubon County in 1952. He also owned and operated an agricultural business in Auburn, Iowa. After retiring, Ray and his wife, Ruth (Eischeid), enjoyed many winters in Mesa, Arizona. Ray was a fireman, a member of the Auburn Lions Club, and a school board member of St. Bernard in Breda.
More than anything, Ray loved spending time with his family. Ray rarely missed a ballgame, a scoop of ice cream, or the chance to make you laugh by sharing one of his famous jokes.
Ray is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Ruth; his children, Yvonne Presley of Carroll, Wayne (Mary) of Glidden, Doug (Carlene) of Lake City, Bart (Sue) of Riceville, and Darlis (Jim) Brincks Jensen of Lake View; his ten grandchildren and their spouses, and ten great grandchildren, plus two more on the way; his siblings, Louise (Jack) Clark, Larry (Lynne) Brincks, Marvin (Gloria) Brincks, Dennis (Cindy) Brincks; his in-laws Cliff (Jean) Eischeid, Verena (Roman) Wittrock, Lenora (Vince) Gross, Janice Neppl, Alberta Meiners, Theresa (Dale) Schlichte, and Duane Bueltel as well as many nieces and nephews.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Julitta (Joe) Behrens, Helen (Ervil) Tiefenthaler, Albert (Theresa) Brincks, Bonnie (Ed) Anthofer, Katherine (Hank) Broich, and Cletus Brincks; his in-laws Delores (Walt) Nees, Marion (Melvin) Bauer, Marvin and Elsie Eischeid, Velma Bueltel, Duane Nepple, and Wilford Meiners.
Ray taught all those around him many lessons, but he wished to leave us with these words of advice. “Work hard, always be honest, spend only what you can afford, and invest wisely.”

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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Ruth, thinking of you at this time of grieving. Ella Mueggenberg

Ella Mueggenberg – December 11 2021 at 4:10 PM

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Our first plane ride was with Ray and Ruth on our way to Vegas. We had never flown before and I was quite nervous. Ray made some joke about the plane and Ruth said Raymond don't she is scard enough. From that time on we had a ball with Ray and Ruth. Deepest sympathy to Ruth and the family.

Carolyn Nieland – December 11 2021 at 9:20 PM

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Thinking of you all at this time. God bless.

John and Cindy Wilson – December 12 2021 at 1:13 PM

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Our deepest sympathy to the family of Ray Brincks. I heard nothing but great things about Ray from his son Wayne. I wish I had the opportunity to spend time with him and listen to his jokes and stories. May the Good Lord rest his soul. Larry & Diane Wilberding

Larry Wilberding – December 13 2021 at 5:49 AM

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My deepest sympathy to Ray’s family. They ask for a memory, I remember as a kid visiting Ray and Ruthann on the farm with pigs and more pigs, it looked like a million of them :) Larry J. Brincks

Larry J Brincks – December 22 2021 at 10:50 PM

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