Bernard "Junior" Meinders

Bernard "Junior" Meinders

Ottumwa. Bernard "Junior" Meinders, 81, of Ottumwa died Sunday, August 10, 2025, at the MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines from a brief blood disorder illness. He was born March 27, 1944, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the son of Bernard C. and Dorothy Van Engelenhoven Meinders. He graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1961. Following graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army National Guard and completed basic training with his brother Bruce at Ft. Leonard Wood. In 1964, he was united in marriage to Diana VanDenBaard. To this union a son David was born. Junior and Diana later divorced. In 1971, he was united in marriage to Arlene Green. Junior embraced her children Dana and Terry as his own, they were later joined by Tania, DeeDee and Derek. After many years of marriage Junior and Arlene divorced. Junior was a salesman at heart. He sold agriculture equipment all over southern Iowa and northern Missouri for over 45 years. He had a knack for remembering what his customers needed and being able to scour the countryside to find it for them. He also enjoyed going to the sale barn and buying and selling cattle. It is safe to say he was always looking to buy and always had something to sell. On December 1, 2001, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Sriver in Ottumwa. The two of them enjoyed 23 years of marriage filled with many memories. Junior had been active at the Good News Chapel when he lived in Oskaloosa. He was always willing to pitch in helping with lawn work and projects around the church. He believed in keeping things looking nice, including himself, he didn't leave the house with a hair out of place, his vehicle spotless, and the lawn perfectly manicured. He loved to wheel and deal and made many good friends and fair deals along the way.

His family includes his wife of 23 years, Carolyn Meinders of Ottumwa; six children and their spouses, David and Terri VanDenBaard of Ankeny, Dana and Roger Taft of Albia, Terry and Stacy Green of Oskaloosa, Tania and Todd Lappin of Oskaloosa, Derek and Kimberly Meinders of Scottsdale, Arizona, and DeeDee and Bill Veldhuizen of Oskaloosa; sixteen grandchildren, Erica Taft, Tyler (Kassi) Taft, Cody Green, Collin (Jarrah) Green, Andrew Green, Cameron Green, Kyle (Tanya) Mitterer, Colton Mitterer, Alex Mitterer, Andrea Mitterer (Stephen), Mandy Veldhuizen, Bret Hoover, Emily (Nick) Thomas, Lindsey Veldhuizen, Carson Meinders, and Kenzie Meinders; six great grandchildren, Bowen, Clay, Journee, Daisy, Pierce, and Tripp; brothers and sisters in law, Maurice Vande Kieft, Arlene Meinders, and Charles (Terri) Sriver; many nieces and nephews; close family friends, Doug (Megan) Turner and John Mitterer; his toy poodle Sophie and his cat "Kitty Cat".

Junior was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bruce Meinders; and a sister, Ruth Vande Kieft.

Funeral services will be Monday, August 18, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Brad Meinders officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery. Graveside Military Honors will be given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and V.F.W. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation with the family present will be Sunday, August 17, 2025, in the Bates Funeral Chapel from 2-4 p.m.

If you feel moved to make a donation in honor of his memory, please consider giving to a local charity, or donating blood, platelets and/or bone marrow to help save loved ones who are afflicted with blood disorders/cancer.