Gretel Margaret Irmgard Baacke

Margaret Irmgard Baacke, Ph.D., affectionately known as Gretel, was born in Berlin on Tuesday, July 10,1923 along with her twin brother Hans. Gretel peacefully passed Friday, August 13, 2021 in Austin, Texas.

Gretel grew up in Germany during World War II and wrote an extensive memoir about her experiences. Her dearly beloved twin brother, Hans, was delivered an hour later after Gretel was delivered and much to the surprise of the attending doctor and nurse as is written in Gretel's amazing published book, Tainted Blood, she wrote with the help from her team of friends. Her book covers an accurate history of her life between the year 1910 up until 1945.

Her personal account resonates with how she developed her ability to overcome life challenges during times of war and with a bit of “Gretel the Great” humor she wrote how she succeeded in getting to the other side of sometimes-dangerous encounters. Her independence and drive to succeed was developed and encouraged by her mother and father at an early age and her own quest to experience life fully. Even when in the middle of war, with blacked out windows, screaming warning sirens, explosions of nearby bombs, fighter airplanes over-head, she was soothed and protected by her loving protective mother and urged to keep her mind off the disaster and delve into reading and her studies. That she did, writing her notes on scraps of leftover paper and bits of paper she collected of any sort. Later her habit of collecting paper, notepads, pencils and pens were easily understandable. By sneaking in to watch her father in his studio office as an attorney, she admired his learnedness. She then typed on any kind of paper available, as supplies were so scarce. Later she would keep her Olympic manual typewriter for years even after ink ribbons were no longer manufactured.

Ever energetic and fascinated by new experiences, Gretel completed her Doctoral Education Degree,

Ph. D. in Germany to teach German language and eventually settled in the United States in the early 50’s when she became an esteemed German language professor at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.

She retired and then moved to Austin, Texas.

Gretel was an avid reader and had a monumental collection of books. Swimming at her nearby community pool, and organic gardening and landscaping of her own backyard were some of her favorite pastimes. She created a beautiful home with a year-round vegetable garden and reaped the organic harvest. Her favorite hobby was knitting which she had learned from her mother a “German” short-cut method and later would offer to teach. Gretel was a keen observer of her fellow humans, often resulting in hilarious comments about their behavior.

She chose to remain independent and single therefore did not marry or have children although she loved children and appreciated the visits from school children on fieldtrips to her retirement home and assisted living facilities. She loved the live in-house concerts, the sing-alongs with Christmas music and even sang beautiful German Christmas Carols for her resident friends at the sing-a-longs. Gretel loved domestic animals and enjoyed the pets that were with the other residents. She loved the Humane Society mission and had a lot of compassion for the pets and even adopted some with reclusive personalities. She adopted one in particular who became her lap-companion keeping her warm and cozy while watching her favorite videos. Her favorite actress was Shirley Temple and she loved Cinderella and of course Hansel and Gretel animated videos!

Gretel was a spiritualist along with her family, and had a quest for knowledge of the nature of spiritual development, which led to her interest in Transcendental Meditation. Her meditation practice proved to be fruitful. Inspired by the benefits of transcendental meditation, Gretel moved to Austin, Texas and became a resident of a Transcendental Meditation community in the Hill Country. There she flourished and was quite active and involved in the community and developed many friends there.

She swam in the beautiful community pool right next to her home within walking distance. She loved the daily newspaper and was always up to the latest news. Her favorite though was the Travel section and Sunday Comics insert, “Prince Valiant” in particular. She was a lover of coffee, special chocolates,

puff pastries and Marzipan.

Gretel delighted any community members at the gatherings while sharing her stories. Her enthusiasm was contagious. Gretel’s last few years were spent in a very attentive senior assisted care facility in her private room where she continued to maintain her cherished library. She was especially appreciative of the daily chef prepared formal meals in the formal dining hall or to have her food delivered to her room when necessary. She even won the Best Hat contest on occasion. She was able to celebrate her 98th birthday in her room with staff and friends and excited about her Birthday balloon larger than she was!

Of course coffee and cake was her favorite!

Her experience of the harsh lean years in Germany gave Gretel a deep appreciation of the abundance found in our country, United States of America. Gretel was blessed with an angel friend and caregiver, Anyah; the assisted living hospice; the assisted living staff, and a few devoted friends she loved who took time to visit her when possible. Gretel was cushioned with love in her last days as she looked forward to transitioning into the ultimate adventure she awaited and to re-join her family who had passed.

We miss you Gretel and thank you for what you brought to our lives and through your sharing of your life in your book you will live on. Many of us who knew and loved Gretel may want to share a story or comment here on Dignity Memorial’s web page for Gretel.

Much thanks and gratitude for Gretel's very dear friends, Elizabeth and Scott Lary for being main contributors to this beautiful memorial about Gretel! Blessings!

Much thanks goes to Cook-Walden Funeral and Garden Memorial and their staff for their excellent assistance.

Please share your fond memories below.

At her request, donations may be made to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army located in Austin, Texas in Gretel’s memory. The memorial service will be announced through this site. Thank you.