Obituary

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.

Bill Vonnahme, 72 of Carroll, died late Tuesday evening at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Carroll. The celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be by Marcy Anderson and the St. Lawrence Choir, with Jake Gute as cantor. Lector will be Bob Schwarzkopf. Gift Bearers will be Bill’s children: Sheryl, Mike, and Kevin, Vonnahme. Eucharistic Ministers will be Jean Knobbe, Ann Christiansen, and Lynette Lehrter. Honorary Casket Bearers will be the staff and directors of Carroll County State Bank, and the Carroll Lions Club. Casketbearers will be: Gregg Vonnahme, Alan Vonnahme, Bob Vonnahme, Tom Schwarzkopf, Dennis Halder, and Larry Clark. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.

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

The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church at 9 a.m. on Saturday where visitation will resume until 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 Bill’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.

Born on August 8, 1941, in Carroll, William was the son of William B. and Laura (Noethe) Vonnahme. As a child, Bill’s family moved to Early, where he attended grade school, and graduated from Sacred Heart High School. After high school Bill graduated from Buena Vista University with a Bachelors degree. He enlisted in the Army National Guard serving for six years. On April 19, 1969 he was united in marriage to Marie Book at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Bill worked in finance at various locations around the country until he moved back to the Carroll area where he worked for Carroll County State Bank until his retirement.

Bill enjoyed fishing, ice fishing, golfing, playing cards, and was an avid outdoorsmen. He was an active volunteer, spending much of his time with the Carroll Lions Club, and delivering meals on wheels. Bill was a member of the Carroll Lions Club, Board of Directors for Carroll County State Bank, Carroll Knights of Columbus, and St. Lawrence Catholic Church.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Vonnahme of Carroll; children: Sheryl Vonnahme of Carroll, Michael Vonnahme of Des Moines, and Kevin Vonnahme of Omaha, NE; his siblings: Ruth Schwarzkopf of Carroll, LuVerne (Alice) Vonnahme of Storm Lake; his in-laws: David Book of Floyds Knobbs, IN., Mary Rose Thompson of Jeffersonville, IN., Martha Davis of Clarksville, IN., and Thomas (Debra) Book of Jeffersonville, IN.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Darrell Vonnahme.

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

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Marie and family, My deepest sympathy to you at this difficult time. My god bless you and make this time more bearable. Carrie Irlbeck

Carrie Irlbeck – February 12 2014 at 11:21 AM

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So sorry to hear about your loss Marie and Family. Bill was a very nice guy and helped out in the community where ever he could. We will miss him helping out on our volunteer route driving for Carroll Congregate Meal site. We could always count on him if we needed someone to fill in even at the last moment at times. May God watch over his family during this difficult time. Thanks Bill for all you did in our community you will be missed.

Tracy Sturm – February 12 2014 at 11:29 AM

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I will miss Bill on the golf course and as an usher in church. My deepest sympathy.

Merlin Tiefenthaler – February 12 2014 at 4:53 PM

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Marie and family. Sorry about the loss of Bill. Will keep you and your family in our prayers. Gary and Betty Venteicher

Gary Venteicher – February 12 2014 at 7:32 PM

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our sympathy goes out to your family at this time of loss. Denny and Marilyn Vonnahme

Denny Vonnahme – February 13 2014 at 6:34 PM

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