Wilda Jean Koster

06/04/1932 –

01/23/2009

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.

Wilda Jean Koster, age 76, of Breda, Iowa, died Friday, January 23, 2009, at her residence in Breda following a long illness. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 A.M., Monday, January 26, 2009, at St. Bernard Church in Breda. The Celebrants will be Father Joe Dillinger and Father Dale Koster. Lectors will be Pat Koster and Doris Scanlan. Gift Bearers will be Marne Irlbeck, Payton Irlbeck, B.J. Irlbeck, and Carter Irlbeck. Mass Servers will be Matt Koster and Miriah Masching. Eucharistic Ministers will be Leonard and Jean Grote. Burial will be at St. Bernard Cemetery in Breda. Friends may call at the Sharp Funeral Home in Breda after 5 P.M. Sunday. There will be a Christian wake service at 6 P.M. Sunday by St. Bernard Parish. Mrs. Koster was born on June 4, 1932, at Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Floyd and Martha (Wysoske) Black. Jean spent her early childhood years in Washington and Denison before moving to Des Moines where she attended Holy Trinity Grade School, graduating from St. Joseph’s Academy with the Class of 1951. Following high school Jean attended Drake University and graduated with a Bachelors of Science. Jean began teaching at Galesburg, Illinois, later moving to California where she taught special education. On August 8, 1959, Jean was united in marriage to Jerome Koster at Holy Trinity Catholic Church at Des Moines, Iowa. Jean and Jerome lived in California for 4 years, moving back to the Midwest in 1965 where they lived on an acreage outside of Stanton for 17 years. The couple moved to Breda in 1997. She enjoyed knitting, needle work, reading, dominos, bridge and spending time with kids. Jean was a member of St. Bernard Parish. Survivors include her husband, Jerome Koster of Breda; a son, Jeffrey Koster and his wife Denise of Rochester, Minnesota, a daughter Jennifer Koster of Breda; three grandchildren: Jason, Jacob, and Janet Koster, all of Rochester, Minnesota; brother in laws and sister in laws: Floyd and Teresa Koster of Wymore, Nebraska, Edgar Koster of Auburn, Otmar Bierl of Arcadia, Father Dale Koster of Auburn, Alma and Ivan Schroeder of Elma, Anita and Duane Hannasch of Carroll, Urban and Pat Koster of Breda, Norma Jean Ludwig of Vail, Myrna and Van Schmidt of Three Forks, Montana,and Alice Thielen of Carroll, special family friends; Kevin and Lynn Irlbeck and their children, Marne, Payton, B.J. and Carter, and numerous nieces and nephews She was preceded in death by her parents, sister in laws and brother in laws; Delores Koster, Elaine Bierl, Helen Bertrand, Romaine Ludwig, Franklin Thielen, and Pearl and Urban Staiert, and her father and mother in law, Clem and Hazel Koster.

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

Uncle Joe, Jenny, Jeff, Denise,Jason, Jacob, and Janet, My thoughts and prayers are with you. Aunt Jean will be missed and remembered fondly in our hearts. Love to you all, Beth

Beth Koster – January 25 2009 at 4:22 PM

I know Jean is with God. I wish I could be there. Jan

Jan Dietzenbach – January 25 2009 at 2:46 PM

Obituaries