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.

Vivian Ruth Schroeder, or Ruth as she preferred, passed away at the age 95 on the morning of June 22nd at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, due to complications of pneumonia.
Funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Msgr. Thomas Reidy, Celebrant, under the direction of Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. A visitation will be held from 12-1 p.m., Wednesday, June 27, 2018 at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with Fr. Brian Feller officiating. Casket Bearers will be Ruth’s family.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll an online condolences may be left for Ruth’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Ruth was born in Pittsburg, Kansas to Fred and Clara (Beckley) Severns. Her father, who was initially a coal miner in south-west Iowa, was attending barber school in Pittsburg and became a life-long barber. The family moved to Farnhamville, IA shortly after Ruth’s birth, and Ruth and her sister, Evelyn, grew up there through the depression and World War II, both graduating from Farnhamville High School. Ruth continued the family barber tradition by completing her certification from beauty school in Ft. Dodge, IA and moved to Long Beach, CA to live with her sister and ply her new trade. About a year later, her mother, Clara, fell ill, and Ruth moved back to Farnhamville to help her ailing parent. She met a young man, Virgil Schroeder (just back from the war and working for his father’s road construction business), at a local dance, and they were soon married and moved to Carroll, Iowa. Over the next 11 years, the couple had six sons. Ruth’s life was dedicated to raising her sons, and she loved watching them grow into young men and eventually start families of their own. In 2010, Ruth and Virgil moved to Springfield, Missouri to be closer to family in their declining years. She lived a fulfilling life with and through her family to the end.
Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Clara (Beckley) Severns, her sister Evelyn Martin of Long Beach, CA, and her husband of 64 years, Virgil Schroeder. She is survived by her Sons Terry and wife Debra of Broomfield, CO, Doug and wife Mary of Omaha, NE, Randy of Springfield, MO, Mark and wife Sylvia of Buda, TX, Craig and wife Judy of Springfield, MO, David and wife Ellen of New York, NY and eight grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

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

icon-quote
Ruth was my aunt but even more she was my friend. During a very difficult time in my life, she was so supportive and we talked often. She knew just what to say...we laughed a lot. I loved her so much...she will he missed. A life well lived.... A heart well loved.... Linda Whildin

Linda Whilfin – June 22 2018 at 7:59 PM

icon-quote
Condolences to the Schroeder family. We will be out of town so we will miss the gathering tomorrow. Growing up across the street in the mid-1950s and 1960s, the six Schroeder boys helped comprise the 35 children on North Carroll St, between 13th & 14th St. It was a lively and wonderful neighborhood filled with ball games, lemonade stands, quasi-carnivals and even a talent show held in Kavalesk’s basement. Ruth and Virgil were life-long friends of my parents, Virginia and Jim Tierney. Ruth was an especially close friend to Mom, even after moving to Springfield. Thank you, Craig, for the many times you stopped in Carroll so our Moms could visit in person. Our thoughts and prayers are with you - (Mary) Fran Tierney Pedelty

Mary Fran Pedelty – June 26 2018 at 9:26 AM

icon-quote
Lit a candle in memory of Ruth Schroeder

Mary Fran Pedelty – June 26 2018 at 9:01 AM

icon-quote
So sorry to here about Ruth. Our prayers are with the family. She was a beautiful lady. Zachary &Diane Campbell

Diane Campbell – June 24 2018 at 12:09 PM

icon-quote
Melvin and Virginia Perkins purchased the Bright and Beautiful Spray for the family of Ruth Schroeder.

Melvin and Virginia Perkins – June 25 2018 at 12:07 PM

Send a Personalized Message: