Urban “Barney” Koster

08/18/1929 –

03/30/2022

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.

Urban “Barney” Koster, 92 of Breda, died Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Saturday, April 2, 2022, at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Breda. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Friedrichsen. Music will be by Marilyn Hundling and the St. Bernard’s Choir. Lectors for the Funeral Mass will be Erin Blackledge, Ashley Main and Haley Onken. Gift Bearers will be Danielle Koster, Savannah Peters, and Allison Main. Eucharistic Ministers will be Mark Main and Ann Koster. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Austin Peters, Dakota Peters, Dillon Peters, Derek Koster, Alex Main, Lucas Onken, Logan Onken and Wyatt Peters. Burial will be in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Breda with military honors conducted by the Breda American Legion.
Visitation will begin at St. Bernard’s Church on Saturday with a rosary at 9:30 a.m. Following the rosary, visitation will resume until time of the Funeral Mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Urban’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Urban “Barney” Anthony Koster was born on August 18, 1929, in Breda, Iowa the son of Clem and Hazel (Van Erdewyk) Koster. He grew up in Breda and graduated from St. Bernard’s High School. Following his education, Urban served in the United States Army where he was stationed in Japan during the Korean conflict. He was honorably discharged and on January 28, 1961, was united in marriage to Patricia Scanlan at St. Martins Catholic Church in Odebolt. The couple farmed and later moved into Breda in 1990. He loved fishing and also enjoyed hunting, playing cards, gardening, visiting with his friends at coffee and spending time with his family.
Barney was a member of the Breda American Legion, Catholic Order of Foresters, St. Bernard’s Church where he served in many capacities as well as singing with the choir.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Patricia Koster of Breda; his children: Julie (Mark) Main of Lincoln, NE, Leo (Cathy) Koster of Winterset, Ann Koster of Avoca, Gail (Mark) Peters of Lidderdale, Ray (Amy) Koster of Menlo, Beth Koster of Shawnee, KS, Neil (Frendie) Koster of West Des Moines, and Tami (Joel) Onken of Glidden; his daughter-in-law, Julia Koster of Winterset; 15 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; his siblings: Anita (Duane) Hannasch of Carroll, Myrna (Van) Schmidt of Three Forks, MT, and Alice Thielen of Carroll; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Donna (James) Nieland of Omaha, NE, Robert (Peg) Scanlan of Lake City, Patrick (Shirley) Scanlan of Kiron, and James (Pam) Scanlan of Denison; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Barney was preceded in death by his parents; his son Paul Koster; as well as his siblings and their spouses: Floyd (Teresa) Koster, Pearl (Irvin) Staiert, Edgar (Delores) Koster, Elaine (Otmar) Bierl, Fr. Dale Koster, Alma (Ivan) Schroeder, Helen Bertrand, Jerome (Jean) Koster, Norma Jean (Romaine) Ludwig; and Margaret, Mary, and Leo in infancy; his brothers-in-law, Frank Thielen, Thomas Scanlan, and John Scanlan.

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

Gail, Neil, and family- Sorry for your loss. May your memories be full of tears, smiles, and laughter. Keeping you in thoughts and prayers. Jackie (Beyerink) Rahe

Jackie Rahe – April 01 2022 at 9:42 AM

I will treasure my memories of our family get togethers of fishing and picnicking at Blackhawk Lake in Lakeview. Also enjoying our visits at the farm. Uncle Barney will be missed and my thoughts and prayers are with the family.

Becky Hannasch – April 01 2022 at 3:54 PM

I remember going to dances after getting out of high school and your dad was out of the service and he went also with Leroy Koster and friends. I met Van at a dance and we also spent time with your mother and Leroy and Janelle. We were all married within a short time . Fun days! Aunt Myrna and Uncle Van

Myrna Schmidt – April 01 2022 at 4:49 PM

Ann, You have my deepest sympathies. Sorry to hear of your father's death. May you find peace and comfort at this difficult time.

Kent Seetin – April 08 2022 at 12:57 PM

Brian &Terry Popp Tom & Cathy Gayle purchased the Simply Elegant Spathiphyllum for the family of Urban "Barney" Koster.

Brian &Terry Popp Tom & Cathy Gayle – March 31 2022 at 10:54 AM

Obituaries