Wendell “Junior” Feilmeier

04/04/1941 –

12/17/2015

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.

Junior Feilmeier, 74 of Carroll, died Thursday, December 17, 2015 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Johnson. Music will be by Barb McDermott and the Holy Spirit Choir. Lector will be Ray Thielen. Gift Bearers will be Hannah Janning, and Laurel Feilmeier. Eucharistic Ministers will be Ray Thielen, Jean Feuerdach, and Eileen Wuebker. Honorary Casket Bearers will be Bernard Feilmeier, Leonard Feilmeier, Al Feilmeier, Jim Dentlinger, and Dan Thielen. Casket Bearers will be Conner Janning, Jeff Cayler, Jim Routh, Jan Thielen, Jim Feilmeier, Bob Dentlinger, Paul Muhlbauer, Jeff Feilmeier, and Mark Feilmeier. Military Honors will be conducted by the Carroll American Legion. Inurnment will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, December 26, 2015 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.

Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, at Holy Spirit Church, and will continue until the time of the funeral mass.

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

Born on April 4, 1941 at Carroll, Iowa, Wendell Leo Feilmeier, Jr. was the son of Wendelin and Clara (Willenborg) Feilmeier. He grew up near Templeton, and later Roselle. He attended school at Holy Angels in Roselle, before attending Carroll High School. After his education, Junior worked for a short time on the family farm, before enlisting in the United States Army. He proudly served from 1960-1966.

On February 13, 1965, Junior was united in marriage to Margie Thielen at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning. The couple lived near Roselle before moving to Minneapolis. They later returned to the Carroll area. Over the years Junior managed Joyce and Fullerton Lumber Company, and Circle B Lumber Company. Junior later worked in automotive sales. He enjoyed gambling, having coffee with his friends, hunting, fishing, traveling, and wintering in the southwest. Most of all Junior enjoyed the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren. Junior was a member of Holy Spirt Catholic Church in Carroll.

Junior is survived by his wife of 50 years, Margie Feilmeier of Carroll; his children: Cindy (Mike) Janning of Carroll, and Tom (Laurel) Feilmeier of Los Lunas, NM; his grandchildren: Conner Janning, and Hannah Janning; his siblings: Rita (Jim) Dentlinger of Glidden, Alfred (Irene) Feilmeier of Westside, Leonard (Marcia) Feilmeier of Glidden, and Bernie Feilmeier of Carroll; his brothers and sisters-in-law: Jannis Feilmeier of Coon Rapids, MN; Melvin Thielen of Manning, Ray (Vicki) Thielen of Manning, and Danny Thielen of Manning; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other relatives, and friends.

Junior was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law: Leo and Bertille Thielen; his siblings: Rudolph Feilmeier, Laura (Tony) Muhlbauer, Marie (Ed) Lammers, Earl Feilmeier; as well as two infant siblings: Edwin and Mary Feilmeier.

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.

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Tribute Wall

My heart is broke, my eyes are flowing with tears & sorrow fills my world. I have always loved Junior & Margie as family. Junior meant the world to me and was a better Father to me than my own flesh and blood. We came into each other's lives and immediately felt a bond. I can't even express how empty I feel right now & how much I will miss him, forever! My thoughts and prayers are with his family as they mourn the loss of this amazing man, God bless you all during this difficult time.

Heather Luchtel – December 19 2015 at 12:32 AM

Junior n Marge while on the farm were our neighbors. They both were good friends as well as neighbors I just visited with Junior not long ago at family table over a cup of coffee n he told me of his illness . I feel he was pretty ready if something happened! God bless to the family Jerry n Reen Rupiper.

jerry rupiper – December 20 2015 at 8:15 PM

I ran into Jr & Marge about a month ago at the casino in Jefferson. Jr said he was taking Marge out for the afternoon. We visited a bit and caught up on what had been happening. As he and Marge were leaving, I remember thinking how sweet is was, after several years of marriage, they were still leaning on each other for support. It made me smile, and I am thankful to have been able to catch up with Jr. He was a great soul who felt like family, and he will be missed. I will always remember his smile and laughter.

Dianne Julian – December 20 2015 at 10:02 PM

Margie and family, I'm so sorry to hear about Junior's passing. Your family has my sympathy. (I used to work with Margie at SANH years ago).

Katie (Gehling) DeWeese – December 21 2015 at 1:43 PM

THIS MAN WAS A GREAT ONE! FRIENDLY WITH A HUGE HEART. LIKE A FATHER FIGURE WHEN I WAS YOUNGER HANGING OUT WITH TOM AND OTHERS IN HIS BASEMENT. I WILL NEVER FORGET HIM OR THE TIMES AND LAUGHS AT HIS HOME.

Doug Danner – December 21 2015 at 4:51 PM

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