Rev. Robert Leiting

02/15/1940 –

09/10/2020

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.

Rev. Robert Leiting, 80 of Carroll, died early Thursday morning, September 10, 2020 at the Friendship Home in the memory care unit in Audubon, Iowa.
A private family Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 19, 2020 at St. John Catholic Church in Arcadia. The Celebrant will be Most Rev. R. Walker Nickless, Bishop of Sioux City Diocese. Homilist will be Fr. Kevin Richter. Concelebrant will be Fr. Timothy Friedrichsen. Casket Bearers will be Fr. Bob’s nieces and nephews. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Arcadia. Family members attending the Funeral Mass are required to wear a face covering.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be mailed to Rev. Robert Leiting Family, c/o Sharp Funeral Home, 226 W. 8th St. Carroll, IA 51401.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Fr. Bob’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on February 15, 1940 in Carroll, Iowa, Robert Lawrence Leiting was the son of Herman B. and Catherine (Speyer) Leiting. He attended St. John School in Arcadia, St. Ann School in Vail, and later graduated from Kuemper Catholic High School in Carroll. Fr. Bob received his Seminary education at Loras College in Dubuque, North American College Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, and Mount St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque. Fr. Robert Leiting was ordained on June 3, 1967 at Cathedral of Epiphany in Sioux City, Iowa.
Fr. Bob served as Assistant Pastor at Sacred Heart, Spencer, St. Rose of Lima, Denison, Immaculate Conception, Sioux City, St. Thomas, Emmetsburg, St. Mary’s, Guttenberg, St. Patrick, Sheldon and Resurrection Parish, Pocahontas. In 1975, Fr. was assigned as Pastor at St. Mary’s in Oto, later St. Mary’s in Dow City, St. Mary’s in Pomeroy, and Chaplain at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll for 17 years.
Fr. Bob is survived by his siblings Jean (Wilbur) Nasby of Dresden, TN, Rose Winker of Windom, MN, Laurete (Bill) McGehee of San Antonio, TX, Glen (Michelle) Leiting of Westside, Eileen (Tom) Sporrer of Manning, Annette Quinlan of Austin, MN, Bruce Leiting of Waterloo, and Joan (Hank) Hillhouse of Lakeland, FL; as well as nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Marilyn; and his brothers-in-law, Ken Winker, Bill Kramer, and Dave Quinlan.

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

Lit a candle in memory of Rev. Robert Leiting

Ken and Doreen Berg – September 11 2020 at 3:43 PM

Father Bob was a a beautiful soul with a smile that would light up the room. He will be missed at the Friendship Home. Rest in peace, Father Bob.

Jan Hilsabeck – September 14 2020 at 6:40 PM

Fr, Leiting always had a smile on his face and a kind word for everyone! It was a pleasure to know him over the years, and especially when he was chaplain at St. Anthony's Hospital. May he enjoy Eternal Rest!

Kaye Stock Arndorfer – September 14 2020 at 11:11 AM

Lit a candle in memory of Rev. Robert Leiting

Julie Jim Sanders – September 14 2020 at 9:29 AM

I cared for Father Bob during his stay at Friendship Home. He was such a sweet and gentle soul. Everyone here will miss him greatly! I am fortunate to have had the honor to have known him.

Deborah Swensen – September 13 2020 at 12:09 PM

Obituaries