Martha Lou Renftle

Martha Lou Renftle, the daughter of Fred and Evelyn (Shanks) Davis, was born December 26, 1925, with her identical twin sister, Mary, on her parents’ farm near Ross, Iowa and died May 29, 2016, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Indianola, Iowa at the age of 90 years, 5 months, and 3 days.
Martha was baptized and confirmed as a Christian. She attended Audubon County rural schools then graduated from the Exira High School with the Class of 1944. Martha and her sister Mary moved to Des Moines, Iowa where they studied at the Iowa School of Beauty Culture. Following graduation they returned to Audubon, Iowa and opened the “Twin’s Hair Salon”.
On September 14, 1947, Martha was united in marriage to John Samuel Renftle at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon, Iowa. They were blessed with two children Stephen and Louann. Martha and John owned and operated the Rose Theater in Audubon for over 40 years. Martha also owned and operated her own hair salon in their home for 55 years while also working as a beautician for the Friendship Home in Audubon and for the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa. Martha was a hair dresser for 58 years. John died on April 29, 1994. Martha lived in Audubon then retired and moved to Indianola to enjoy her family there and also in Colorado.
Martha was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon. She also was a life member of the Eastern Star.
Preceding her in death in addition to her husband John; was her son-in-law Mark Jackson; her parents; her sister Jane and husband Dr. Lawrence Larsen, her twin sister Mary and husband Dwight Conklin; and her brother-in-law Larry Patrick.
Survivors include her children Stephen and wife Julie Renftle of Indianola, Iowa and Louann Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her grandchildren Jodi and husband Jim Dishman and Katie and husband Bryce Gilbert all of Indianola, Iowa, David Jackson of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Jade Jackson of Key Largo, Florida; her great grandchildren Trenton Dishman, Scout Dishman, Kolton Gilbert, and Ashlyn Gilbert all of Indianola, Iowa; her sister JoAnn Patrick of Carson, Iowa; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.
The Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be conducted by Pastor Kathy Kluis, on Friday, July 8, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. Inurnment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa.