Raymond Schettler

02/09/1924 –

08/10/2017

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 Schettler, 93 of Carroll and formerly of Breda, died Thursday, August 10, 2017 at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Fr. Mark Stoll. Con-Celebrant will be Fr. Thomas Hart. Music will be by Marilyn Hundling and the St. Bernard’s Choir. Lector for the funeral mass will be Ken Schettler. Gift Bearers will be: Laura Ludwig and Mary Jo Schettler. Casket Bearers will be: Justin Ludwig, Ryan Ludwig, Nikki Ludwig, Brett Ludwig, John Herbolsheimer, Holly Schettler, and Jordan Riesselman. The Catholic Order of Foresters will form an honor guard for the funeral mass. Burial will be in St. Bernard Cemetery with military honors conducted by the Breda American Legion.
Friends may call at St. Bernard Church in Breda after 5 p.m. on Tuesday where there will be a rosary at 7 p.m.
Memorials may be left at the church for Kuemper Catholic Schools Foundation or St. Anthony Hospital Foundation.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Breda and online condolences may be left for Ray’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on February 9, 1924 at Breda, Iowa, Raymond was the son of Ben and Emma (Hoebing) Schettler. He graduated from St. Bernard’s High School with the Class of 1941. Ray served in the United States Army with the military police and following his honorable discharge returned to the Breda area. On March 28, 1951 he was united in marriage to Rita Stevens at St. Peter and Paul Church in Carroll. The couple made their home in Breda where Ray farmed until 1989.
Ray had an appreciation for nature as he loved tending to his garden at home, caring for the flowers at St. Bernard Church and also cared for the bird houses along the Sauk Trail. Ray enjoyed volunteer work. While wintering in Texas Ray and Rita assisted with children’s refuge mission and volunteered at New Hope Village Store in Carroll. Ray enjoyed visiting friends at nursing homes, playing cards, and socializing with his many family and many friends. Ray held a special place in his heart for Roger and John Hoebing, who at a young age came to live with Ray’s family.
Ray was a member of St. Bernard Church, Breda American Legion and Catholic Order of Foresters.
Ray is survived by his wife Rita Schettler of Carroll; his children: Laura (Dale) Ludwig of Carroll and Ken (Mary Jo) Schettler of Omaha; 5 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, other extended relatives and many friends.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law; his siblings: Vincent Schettler, Cecilia Schettler, Leona Schettler, Georgia Schettler, Eugene Schettler, Leonard Schettler, Colette Grote, Cyril Schettler, Joe Schettler, Marcella Gross, Laurine (Sr. Karen FSPA), Lucile (Sr. Lucile FSPA) and Rita Lorenz as well as many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

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 ~ Breda, Iowa

102 S 5th St, Breda, IA, 51436

712-673-2828

[email protected]

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

My sympathy to you Rita and your family at the passing of Ray. I am the youngest daughter of Irene Thiele-Richter and she spoke so highly of you and Ray over the years. What a good man! I was looking into our family history and am wondering if Ray's dad Ben was the son of Anna Lonneman and Ben Schettler? If so he would have been a half-sister to our grandmother who was Anna Schulte Thiele, daughter of Anna Lonneman and her second husband Ted Schulte. I was told that Ben Schettler died of heat stroke when Anna was pregnant with John Schettler. Such an interesting family history. I hope his memory brings you much comfort! Sincerely, Annette Richter Seivert

Annette – August 13 2017 at 3:46 PM

I have many great memories of Ray Schettler. I was fortunate to be able to spend many summertime hours on his farm near Breda as a boy. Ray was generous with pay & with his time. I would help with hay baling. We walked Beans, carrying machetes or hoes to chop weeds. And Ray always cared about the people first. His wife Rita was always there, with large wonderful lunches for the workers. Ray & I mixed & poured concrete for a corn bin floor. We shoveled corn. He taught me to kill rats when we shoveled corn from old cribs. Ray taught me to drive his '59 Chevy’ pickup truck. He insisted. I learn. I was terrified, but I learned to enjoy the 3 speed manuel transmission. Knowing that manuel, later helped me get a part time job, with a local lumber yard. Ray was always a gentleman & a great mentor, the best type. Ray taught me countless lessons about farm life. How to shoot a jackrabbit, ‘Lead him a little more!’ Make sure hay is dry, before you store it inside a barn. I am very fortunate, to have collected fresh eggs at his place & to have helped with the animals. Ray was always generous with pay, with his time & conversation. He helped me & my siblings countless times. At times he Took us helpers to the state fair. We will all cherish these memories for ever. Ray, had been a military police but was a true gentleman. He taught me to have a respect for life & a respect for women. Thank You Ray & My god bless Ray & Rita. My Love to Ken & Laura & their families. Bill Schettler Mt. Vernon, Ia.

Bill Schettler – August 14 2017 at 3:35 PM

So sorry to here about Ray, passing away. Margaret & I send our sincerest sympathy to My Aunt Rita With Love, Bill & Margaret Stevens

Bill & Margaret – August 18 2017 at 9:03 PM

Thanks for your beautiful memories. Dad always enjoyed you kids and your hard work and company. He liked to keep those rabbits out of his garden! He lived a full, long life and we feel so fortunate to have had so many years with him. We spent the past 10 days reminiscing and talking; saying our goodbye's. He did crossword puzzles for about 30 years every day--I think that was his key to keeping his mind sharp to the very end. Saturday he was playing cards in the hospital with his card buddies; he even marked because no one else knew how to!! Thanks again. Laura

Laura Ludwig – August 14 2017 at 5:21 PM

Annette, Yes, dad's father Ben was married to Anna Schulte Thiele. I remember him talking about the Thiele's. Dad was not ill very long and we were lucky to have him around for 93 years!! He lived a full life and we will miss him. Laura Ludwig, Ray Schettler's daughter.

Laura Ludwig – August 14 2017 at 5:21 PM

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