Irene Smalley Mersch

Irene Smalley Mersch was a proud United States Navy Veteran of the Korean War and career Civil Service employee with the United States Army. Irene’s career began at the Savanna Army Depot in payroll. She later transferred to the Rock Island Arsenal in accounting. She returned to Savanna to become a Quality Assurance Specialist (Ammunition Surveillance) “QASIS”. She loved being a QASIS and the travel it afforded. She was stationed in Indiana, South Korea, Texas (twice) and Germany (twice) before retiring in 1993.
Upon retirement, Irene moved to North Carolina to be near her son Jeff Mersch (Connie) and her mother, Florence Smalley Everhart. She was there for the birth of her grandson James Mersch in 1998 and spent many hours with him during his preschool years. The rest of the time she spent spoiling her little dog Niki.
In 2012 she moved to Monmouth, Illinois once again to be near her family. In 2013 she moved to the Courtyard Estates assisted living center in Monmouth, Illinois. She loved the care they provided and the chance to make many new friends.
Irene passed on February 15th, 2014 at the age of ’80 at OSF Hospital in Monmouth due to complications after an elective surgery. She passed way too soon.
Irene was born March 14, 1933 in Savanna Illinois, the daughter of James E. and Florence (Reeves) Smalley. James Smalley was an Army officer stationed at the Savanna Army Depot at the time. James was transferred to Texarkana, Texas for his final duty assignment as the Commander of the Lone Star Ammunition Plant. Irene attended her first three years of high school in Savanna, but graduated from Hooks High School in Texas. She was devastated by the move to Texas before her senior year. Shortly after graduation, Irene joined the Navy, serving at Parris Island, SC as a hospital corpsman. James, Florence and daughter Sandra Smalley returned to Savanna after retiring in ’54. After two years, Irene left the Navy and rejoined the family in Savanna. Irene married Arthur Peter Mersch of Clinton, Iowa in ’58.
Irene will be missed by her son, Jeffrey Mersch (Connie) of Monmouth, Illinois and her grandson, James Mersch. Irene was preceded in death by her mother, father and sister, Sandra Knapp.
Irene was a registered donor in support of medical research. Her remains will be buried near her mother in North Carolina.