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Martha Jackson

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Submitted by admin on Tue, 05/18/2021 - 13:49

Martha Jackson, 80, of McGregor, passed away Thursday, May 13, 2021. She was born in California on Sept. 30, 1940, to Howard and Wilma (Kepple) Rockwell. Martha was raised in Coon Rapids by her mother and stepfather James Whalley. 

 

Martha married Duane Jackson on Nov. 12, 1957, and moved to Des Moines, where they raised four children: James, Richard, Sharon and Cynthia. She was a volunteer at Brooks Elementary School for playground activities in the late 60s and babysat for several children. Martha enjoyed baking and was an avid bowler. The family spent many weekends at local racetracks in Vandalia and Boone in support of her favorite stock car driver, Larry Jackson of Des Moines. In later years, Martha became a NASCAR/Jeff Gordon fan.

 

Martha began working as a waitress at the Des Moines Club and the Peppertree in Urbandale, then enjoyed a 22-year career at Denny’s on E. Euclid, where she worked until they closed their doors. Upon retirement, she moved to McGregor. Martha spent many hours walking through Bloody Run Park and was a regular at the library, as she loved reading crime novels. Martha continued baking and became known as “The Cookie Lady” for the Monday night bowling league at CJ Lanes in Elkader. She spent a lot of time sitting on her swing outside the Carriage House Apartments, enjoying two of her favorite things, coffee and cigarettes, along with the visits and waves from the community.

 

Martha is survived by her son, Richard Jackson of Des Moines; daughters, Sharon (Harold) Brooks and Cindy (Roland) Lindner, both of McGregor; two sisters, Linda Jones of McGregor and Jane (Ronald) Rumph of Earlham; brothers-in-law, Larry Jackson of Des Moines and Gene (Diana) Jackson of Arizona; sisters-in-law, Vonda (Ivan) Gehlhaar of Garden Grove and Irmgard Titus of Des Moines; and nine grandchildren, Tabitha (Marc) Steiber, Jeremiah (Melissa) Jackson, Andrea (Michael) Fettkether, Josh Jackson, Christopher (Rod) Brooks, Heather (Adam) Jackson, Amanda (Mark) Rosanske, Katherine (Kevin) Achenbach and Ryan Linder; and 15 great-grandchildren.

 

Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her ex-husband, Duane; her son, James; two brothers, James Titus and Richard Rockwell; and many in-laws from the Jackson family.

 

A celebration of life will be Thursday, May 20, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, McGregor.

 

Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor is assisting the family with arrangements.

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