Shirley J. Willenborg

07/22/1931 –

04/14/2010

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.

Shirley Willenborg, age 78, of Dedham, Iowa, died early Wednesday, April 14, 2010, at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, April 17, 2010, at St. Joseph Church in Dedham. The Celebrant will be Father Anthony Pick, assisted by Deacon Louis Meiners. The casket will be taken to the church at 8:30 A.M. Saturday to lie in state until the time of the funeral mass. Lector will be a granddaughter, Sarah Dentlinger. Gift Bearers will be granddaughters, Kristina Riesselman, Jackie Willenborg, Jamie Willenborg, and Amber Willenborg. Mass Servers will be Brittney Mikkelsen and Rachel Grossman. Eucharistic Minister will be Joe Ankenbauer. Honorary Pallbearers will be granddaughters and granddaughters-in-law, Sarah Dentlinger, Kristina Riesselman, Jackie Willenborg, Jamie Willenborg, Amber Willenborg, Alyssa Willenborg, Laura Luetje, and Stacie Riesselman. Casket Bearers will be grandsons, Chad Riesselman, Matt Willenborg, Tom Willenborg, Kurt Riesselman, Nick Willenborg, and Adam Luetje. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Dedham.
Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll after 3:30 P.M. Friday. A rosary will be prayed at 4 P.M. Friday. There will be a Christian wake service at 7 P.M. Friday by St. Joseph Parish.
Shirley was born on July 22, 1931, at Lidderdale, Iowa, the daughter of Harry and Bertha (Dewey) Armstrong. She spent her younger years in the Lidderdale community and attended country school and Carroll High School. On May 25, 1955, she was married to Art Willenborg at St. Lawrence Church in Carroll. The couple lived west of Dedham until 1962 when they moved to their home in Dedham where Shirley was a homemaker and raised their family. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish, Parish Ladies Guild, and the Midwest Old Iron Club. Shirley dearly loved her family and enjoyed gambling, cooking for her family, and the Old Iron Club activities.
Survivors include her husband, Art Willenborg of Dedham; her children, Cindy Riesselman and husband Allan of Dedham, Dale Willenborg and wife Lori of Dedham, Peggy Dentlinger and husband Kevin of Guthrie Center, Allen Willenborg and special friend Linda Jenkins of Dedham, and Ron Willenborg and special friend Diane Rickers of Dedham; eleven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; a brother, Darwin Lee Armstrong and wife Kathy of Pewaukee, Wisc.; sisters, Joyce Tapps and husband Norman of Carroll, and Mavis Junkman and husband Eddie of Rockwell City; and sisters-in-law, Jean Knobbe of Guthrie Center, and Lois Adolf of Burlington, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Larry Armstrong.

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

So sorry to hear about Shirley.

June Heinrichs – April 16 2010 at 8:34 PM

Your are in my thoughts and prayers in this time of sadness.

Patty ballou – April 16 2010 at 6:18 PM

Our deepest sympathy for your loss. We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. May your memories comfort you.

Tom & Brenda Muhr – April 16 2010 at 4:38 PM

We just want you to know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers and want you to know that we are thinking of you!

Mike, Annie, Jay and Josh Peter – April 16 2010 at 3:28 PM

Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.

Randy, Becky, Drew, and Tess Rademacker – April 15 2010 at 6:18 PM

Send a Personalized Message:

Photos

No photos available.

Obituaries