Ursula "Ursi" Rhodes

Ursula “Ursi” (Hoppmann) Rhodes, 89, entered her eternal home with family by her side on October 31, 2024.

Born in Frankfurt, Germany, on June 2, 1935, to Karl and Anna “Susi” Hoppmann, Ursula was named by her older sister, Ann, who was almost 5 years old at the time. In Germany, a popular song on the radio was entitled “Ich Wunsch Mir Eine Kleine Ursula” (song by Marita Grundgens), meaning: “I wish for a little Ursula.” Ann got her little Ursula, and the two became lifelong friends.

Ursula was born just prior to the start of World War II. Their family experienced air raids, bombings, and having to move from place to place to escape and survive. They immigrated to the United States in 1946, and Ursi turned 11 on the ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean.

Her family settled in Marshfield, Wisconsin, where Ursi attended the Marshfield School District and became a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Ursi fell in love with a military man, Bruce Babcock, and they married on June 12,1954, at Immanual Lutheran Church in Marshfield and lived in Milwaukee for one year, with the Babcock family. In 1955, Ursi completed her education and achieved her high school diploma from Milwaukee Vocational and Adult Schools.

In November of that year, Ursula and Bruce packed their belongings and drove the frozen Alcan Highway to live in Anchorage, Alaska near her sister, Ann, and Harold Kahn. A few years later, Ursi and Bruce's son, Lee, was born in Alaska.

In 1960, Ursi and Bruce became Alaskan homesteaders in Big Lake, Alaska. While Bruce was away at Elemendorf Air Force Base during the week, Ursi and Lee had many adventures together in the Alaska wilderness.

Ursi and Bruce divorced in 1966, and she and Lee moved back to Marshfield, Wisconsin, purchasing a small home just two houses from Ursi’s parents, on East Third Street.

On January 26, 1970, Ursula married Robert “Bob” Rhodes in Dubuque, Iowa. They bought a home on Cameron Lane in Marshfield and raised three children together, Roxann (Vanderwyst), Robert “Bob,” and Carrie (Nagel).

When Ursi and Robert divorced in 1980, she moved her three youngest children to a new home on East 17th Street.

Ursi had a strong work ethic and held positions through various organizations, including Greater Marshfield Insurance, Weyerhauser, and Marshfield Electric and Water Department.

She worked in retail at Prange’s which later became Younker’s. Ursi loved to set up the displays and rearrange the merchandise. Ursula dreamt of being a fashion designer in New York City so working in retail gave her those artistic and creative outlets.

After retirement, Ursula worked part-time for Hallmark, and loved to help customers find the perfect card or treasure.

In 2005, Ursi had the amazing opportunity to revisit her homeland with her daughter, Carrie, and son-in law, Daniel, (Nagel). They traveled to Frankfurt and visited the homes of her ancestors. It was a trip that Ursi would fondly recall and talk about often. 

After returning from Germany, Ursi moved to Fall Creek, Wisconsin to be closer to her youngest grandchildren. She made many new friends in Fall Creek. Her apartment included a deck where she could sip her coffee or tea and observe the farmer’s cows on the land behind her, as well as watch the trains roll by on the tracks close to her home.

In 2010, Ursi moved back to Marshfield and found a new apartment and new friends at Cedar Rail Court.

Generous in every way, Ursula gave her time and wisdom to everyone. A birthday, holiday, or anniversary never went by without a thoughtful card from Ursi, penned in her beautiful handwriting.

Ursi loved to spoil her family and friends with food. Some of her best recipes included her blueberry cheesecake, pistachio torte, and German beef rouladen.

She was a devoted fan of bookstores, yellow roses, and a great cup of coffee from her percolator. Ursi had a deep passion for reading, especially westerns and mysteries.

Ursula loved to write, journaling her daily activities and had many fictional stories she was creating. In her youth, she was also a gifted artist, being able to sketch elaborate dresses for paper dolls from memory, after seeing the latest cinema flick.

In the fall and winter, Ursi was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. She never missed watching a game and would document the scores in her journal. Her other loves included Tom Selleck, Englebert Humperdinck, Elvis Presley, and Sean Connery. She adored old, classic movies and Lawrence Welk.

Ursula's final months were in the care of the team at Three Oaks Health Services in Marshfield. The family wishes to offer a special thank you to the caregivers at Three Oaks and the nurses and Palliative Care team at the Marshfield Medical Center.

Ursi is survived by her four children, Lee (Sue) Babcock, Roxann (Tom) Vanderwyst, Bob Rhodes, Carrie (Daniel) Nagel; four grandchildren, Amanda (Jeff) Leurquin, Jason (Sarah) Babcock, Tom and Emilie Vanderwyst; five great-grandchildren, Gavin and Elijah Babcock and Finn, Teddi, and Archer Leurquin; and a nephew Steve Kahn and his wife Anne (Coray) Kahn.

Ursi was predeceased by her mother and father, sister, Ann, and brother-in-law, Harold Kahn, and a granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Babcock.

Ursi made lasting connections wherever she was. Thank you to so many who touched her life.

A funeral service and celebration of Ursula’s life will be held Monday, November 25, 2024, at Hansen-Schilling Funeral Home, 1010 E. Veterans Parkway, Marshfield. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m., with a meal and fellowship following the service.

To view the live-strreamed service, please click this link: 

https://youtube.com/live/Dc5rwIcpqDI?feature=share

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ursula "Ursi" Rhodes, please visit our floral store.