Ursula M. Rykert Obituary

Please join us to celebrate her life on Thursday August 14, 2025 at St Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 1150 W Centre Ave., Portage, Michigan, 49024. Visitation- 9:30am; Mass of Christian Burial- 10:30am; Luncheon- 11:30; Interment- 1:30pm Fort Custer National Cemetery. For those unable to attend, the Mass will be livestreamed on the church website and a recording will also be made available there. Memorial contributions may be given to Weavers Guild of Kalamazoo (PO Box 2795, Kalamazoo, MI 49003).

Ursula Maria (Neuner) Rykert, age 86, passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Ursula was born on July 20, 1939 in Aschaffenburg, Germany, the second of three daughters of Joseph and Maria (Sommer) Neuner. She fell in love with Maurice Rykert and they married on June 24, 1961 in Williamston, Michigan. Surviving Ursula are her husband, two children: Matthias (Raji) Rykert, Uta (Steve) Turcotte; 5 grandchildren: Joshua Turcotte, Gabriela Rykert, Daniel Rykert, Natasha (Robbie) DePalma, Michaela (James) Singell; 3 great-grandchildren: Chloe DePalma, Zoey DePalma, Asher DePalma; sister Barbara Schott; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; granddaughter Alina Rykert; sister Rosemarie Wirthwein. Ursula was trained in the medical and science fields, worked as a lab technician, and retired from the Upjohn Co. (Pfizer). She was an active charter member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, taught young children, welcomed new members, and prepared her famous cucumber salad for funeral luncheons, among many other ministries. She loved taking classes at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art including human sculpture, charcoal, pastels, and ceramics. Ursula was very proud to have one of the two busts of her children selected from hundreds of artistic works and was on display at the KIA . In 1983 she joined the Weavers Guild of Kalamazoo and wove beautiful items on the two looms her husband purchased for her. Ursula's life was filled with family, friends and God. A highlight of her grandchildren was to select a theme for each birthday so Ursula could surprise them with a beautifully decorated birthday cake that she created. Ursula always kept her German family close to her heart and looked forward to visiting them as often as she could. She impacted many lives with her love, compassion, and hospitality. She will be deeply missed.