Irmgard Bauke Smawley Obituary

Irmgard Helene Bauke Smawley, died peacefully at Bethany Village on Monday, January 13th, 2025 ten days shy of her 96th birthday.
Born in Berlin Germany January 23, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Gustav and Charlotte Bauke.
She survived WWII as a young teenager and afterwards became a nurse working at the US Army hospital in Munich where she met her future husband, Jack Smawley. She immigrated to the United States with Jack and her daughter Barbara in 1965. Many years later, she became a citizen of the US and was extremely proud to participate in the voting process.
As an avid reader, it was fitting that she worked as a librarian for the Camp Hill school district and later volunteered at the Fredricksen Library for over 20 years. She won awards from the State of PA for having the most volunteer hours of anyone, year in and year out. Shortly after moving to Bethany Village in 2004, both her son and daughter-in-law were deployed to Afghanistan. Without a second thought, Irm and Jack took in their 5-month-old granddaughter. It was a lot of work for them at ages 77 and 86, but they truly had fun caring for her until her parents returned.
Irmgard very much enjoyed traveling, particularly loving cruises in retirement. She could have a conversation with anyone about anything!
She embodied the immigrant work ethic, never once complained, pushed her children to do well, and was a rock for all of us.
She and Jack were long-time members of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.
She is pre-deceased by her husband of 49 years Jack D. Smawley, her sister Gisela Bauke, and her brother Dietrich Bauke. She is survived by her brother Walter Bauke, her three children Barbara M. Ostendorf, retired General George R. Smawley, and Susan E. Smawley Maddocks, as well as 4 grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 25th at the chapel Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2000 Chestnut St, Camp Hill PA, with Pastor Jack Horner officiating. Interment will be held immediately following the service in the Church Columbarium. Myers-Baker Funeral & Cremation Services, 1903 Market Street, Camp Hill, is handling funeral arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Village Assurance Fund, 325 Wesley Drive, Mechanicsburg PA 17055.