Ursula Kagele

December 15, 1928 - January 23, 2015

Ursula Amalie Dora Cassens Kagele, age 86, passed away Jan. 23, 2015 in Lynnwood, Wash. She had lived in the Seattle area since 1989.

A native German, Ursula was born Dec. 15, 1928 in Bremen, Germany, to the late Friedrich and Amalie Cassens. She is survived by her sister, Inge Spohler (Walter) of Bremen, Germany; her son, Douglas Kagele (Shannon) of Ephrata, Washington; daughters, Madeline Erickson (Bernie) of Moses Lake, Washington; Alice Stoller (Harry) of Spring?eld, Illinois; Faye Kagele of Woodland, California; and Julie Kagele of Wenatchee,Washington; daughter-in-law Patty Kagele of Roseburg, Oregon; eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Ursula met her husband, Norman Kagele, at a GI dance while he was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany, at the end of World War II. After about a year's courtship she left her homeland and began a new adventure in the remote farming region of eastern Washington. They were married August 7, 1947 in Spokane, Wash., and made their home on a farm near Ritzville, Wash. They enjoyed 38 years together, raising six children on a wheat and cattle ranch.

Ursula believed in weekly church attendance, kept an orderly house, was an excellent cook, and loved growing flowers. She and her husband, who also had German ancestry, enjoyed a trip to Germany shortly before his death in 1984. In 1989, Ursula moved to Seattle, Washington, where she enjoyed over 20 years of active city life. She regularly rode Metro buses in Seattle to attend events such as street fairs and ballet. A highlight of her experiences was a tour of France when she was 72.

Ursula is preceded in death by her parents Amalie and Friedrich Cassens, husband Norman Kagele; an infant son, Steven Kagele; an infant grandchild, and grandson Andrew Gumprecht.

She was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Seattle. Graveside services will be held for immediate family, per her request, on Feb. 6 at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery in Ritzville, Wash.