Theresa Riesenberg

09/07/1939 –

11/03/2015

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.

Theresa Riesenberg, 76, of Halbur, died Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2015 at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Halbur. The celebrant will be Fr. Steven Brodersen. Mass servers will be Emily Riesenberg, and Carrie Riesenberg. Music will be by Julie Sibbel, Sonya Riesenberg, and the St. Augustine Choir. Lectors will be Tricia Ezekwe, Matt Riesenberg, and Craig Riesenberg. Gift Bearers will be Tatianna Riesenberg, Jolie Riesenberg, Athena Riesenberg, and Adara Ezekwe. Eucharistic ministers will be Don Riesenberg, Tricia Ezekwe, and Irene Schroeder. Casket Bearers will be Jeremy Riesenberg, Christopher Riesenberg, Adam Riesenberg, Andy Riesenberg, Jack Riesenberg, and Sean Riesenberg. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, after 4:30 p.m. on Friday, where there will be a rosary prayed at 5 p.m., and a Christian Wake Service at 7 p.m.

Visitation will resume at St. Augustine Church starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, and will continue until the time of the funeral mass.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be left at the funeral home or at the church to be directed to the family for a later designation.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Theresa’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Born on September 7, 1939 in Dedham, Iowa, Theresa Frances was the daughter of Frank and Anna (Gruber) Peter. She grew up near the Dedham community and attended St. Joseph School. Theresa later attended St. Angela’s Academy before she graduated with one of the first classes from Kuemper Catholic High School.

On November 17, 1958 Theresa was united in marriage to Lavern Riesenberg at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Dedham. The couple made their home on the Riesenberg Family Farm near Halbur. The couple were actively engaged in grain and livestock farming. In addition, she was a devoted homemaker. Theresa worked many part-time jobs, in her early years, and later she worked full time for New Hope Village in Carroll.

Theresa enjoyed flowers and her vegetable gardens. Most of all she enjoyed the time she spent with her family. She was known for her strength and faith. She was a former member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and an active, long time member of St. Augustine Parish in Halbur.

Theresa is survived by her husband Lavern Riesenberg of Halbur; 13 children: Dave (Colleen) Riesenberg of Manson, Dale (Linda) Riesenberg of Sioux City, Don (Michele) Riesenberg of West Bend, Denise (Jeff) Petty of Princeton, Tom (Julie) Riesenberg of Carroll, Chuck (Lisa) Riesenberg of West Bend, Scott (Marie) Riesenberg of Cedar Rapids, Russ (Tracy) Riesenberg of Roselle, Tricia (Ben) Ezekwe of Kansas City, MO, Craig (Sonya) Riesenberg of Muscatine, Matt (Helene) Riesenberg of Springfield, VA, Kris (Anna) Riesenberg of Egan, MN, and Nic (Diana) Riesenberg of Hagerstown, MD; 29 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; her siblings: Bob (Jane) Peter of Dedham, Betty Riesenberg of Carroll, Frances (Kenneth “Shorty”) Wieland of Templeton, and Carol (Vernon) Irlmeier of Glidden; her sisters-in-law: Irene (Bob) Schroeder of Carroll, and Laura Wernimont of Carroll; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.

Theresa was preceded in death by her parents; and her siblings: Marie Danner, Alfred Peter, Rose Maile, Dorothy Ziegmann, and Lucille Ziegmann.

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

Lavern and Family, You are in our thought and prayers at this difficult time..Growing up with your family we spent a lot of time with you all. I will cherish all those memories. Making donuts at my moms house. Mom and Theresa could not make them fast enough. Spending weekends together she was always so full of life. Probably the last time I talked to her was at the family reunion and when she talked about you kids she was so proud of all of you..You had such an amazing mom and I had the greatest Aunt ever.. Theresa meant the world to me. We will miss her dearly. Love Renee

Renee – November 03 2015 at 4:20 PM

Lavern and family you all are in our thoughts and prayers Theresa was such a loving person to her husband,children and grandchildren and to anyone she meant she is now in Gods hands singing with the angels God bless you all Ross and Michelle and girls

Michelle Schuette – November 04 2015 at 11:59 AM

Heartfelt sympathy to all you Riesenberg's on the passing of Theresa. My heart skipped a beat when I heard......such a nice lady and always friendly. A wandering Sunday drive might happen us by the old farmplace near Halbur.....and smiles spread across the face as we near the stop sign on the gravel road, wondering: "I wonder what the Riesenberg's are up to?" Although I didn't grow up with the older bunch, you all look alike and can always identify by looks. May the Lord comfort you during this difficult time~ Hugs, Pam (Stitz) and Chris Kitt family

Pam Kitt – November 05 2015 at 10:30 PM

Our thoughts and prayers to LaVerne and Family. Such a wonderful mother, grandmother, wife, and friend to so many. So many memories of the school bus route years ago. Such a wonderful family. Dave and Patty Stitz and Family.

Dave Stitz – November 08 2015 at 8:11 PM

May the family and friends of Theresa be comforted by the promise that God " will swallow up death forever, and will wipe the tears from all faces.." (Isaiah 25:8) What a wonderful time to look forward to when we'll never have to experience losing those dear to us in death ever again!

Reene – November 20 2015 at 6:39 AM

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