Doris L. Renfer

Doris L. Renfer

Marion

Doris L. Renfer, 96, of Marion, Iowa, passed away on Oct. 26, 2022, at the Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha after a brief illness. A private family burial was held on Oct. 28.

Doris’ husband of 73 years, Irwin Renfer, passed away on March 30, 2020. Doris is survived and lovingly remembered by her three children, Ron (Frances) Renfer of Marion, Jan (Martin) Schuhmacher of Marion and Marcia (Andy) Zimmermann of Franklin, Tenn.; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

Doris was born in Chippewa Falls, Wis., on Dec. 22, 1925, to John Glen and Eva (Church) Arnold. She graduated from Alburnett High School in 1943, and then attended Iowa State Teacher’s College. At the ripe old age of 17, Doris began teaching elementary school in a one-room country schoolhouse near Springville while Irwin served in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps in India. Irwin returned to Iowa in 1946 and they were married two weeks later at Springville Methodist Church. They moved to Marion in 1947 and spent many years as prominent business leaders, owning and operating Irwin’s Clothing on 7th Avenue and 12th Street in Marion until their retirement in 1982. In 2009 they sold their home on McGowan Blvd. and moved to Keystone Place, where they resided until 2019 when they moved to The View of Marion.

Doris loved her family and community, attending sporting events, plays, vocal and band concerts to support her children’s interests. Doris had a lifelong love for the Chicago Cubs. She also enjoyed many years of substitute teaching, working at Irwin’s Clothing, golfing at Indian Creek Country Club with friends, serving in civic organizations, their church, Marion Methodist, in Marion, and traveling with Irwin in their retirement years within the United States and to seven countries through the Elderhostel program. They had many years of friendship with their beloved “card club.” They spent 20 years after retirement as snowbirds in Arizona and made friends from all over the world.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents, John Glen and Eva Arnold; her husband, Irwin Renfer; and her brother, Forrest Arnold.

The family will have a combined celebration of Irwin and Doris’ lives at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at Marion Methodist with Mike Morgan officiating.

Memorials in Doris’s memory may be directed to Marion Methodist, 5050 REC Dr., Marion, IA 52302.

Please share a memory of Doris at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.