Ursula Anna Gonzales, age 81, passed away peacefully of Alzheimer’s on January 13, 2021 at New Dawn Memory Care in Colorado Springs.
She was born in Haida kreis Laipa, Czechoslovakia to the late Herta Goth and Heinrich Focke. Uschi (as she was called) attended Volkschule Hausen then Berufschule Obertshausen. After Berufschule, she worked at leathercrafts learning how to design and make purses.
“That little one is mine” were the words spoken by her future husband after seeing Uschi dancing with her friend Irene. While love at first sight is instantaneous, protocols are not. After a yearlong courtship, seven months of paperwork and with approval of her mother on July 17, 1958, she was married in a civil ceremony in Langendiebach, Germany and later (at her mother’s insistence) in a church ceremony in Fleigerhorst Kaserne, Germany to SP4 Louis Gonzales.
Uschi is survived by her husband Louis, daughter Cordula, son-in-law David Schreck, granddaughter Katie and her husband Alex Tardieu, grandson Eric Schreck and his wife Shelly, great-granddaughter Charlie Kate, and her brother Karl-Heinz and his wife Evi of Germany.
Ursula was predeceased by her mother and father, son Louis III and sister Doris (Ludwig) Kraus.
What followed after marriage was a military life with periodic moves. An achievement during this time was her gaining American citizenship of which she was extremely proud. After their retirement from the military (she always considered herself as being in the military), she was employed by Ford Aerospace as a data entry operator and subsequently as a computer operator. As a data entry operator, she was fast, accurate and responsible for providing computer runs to teams bidding for defense contracts. On one occasion, she was asked to present at a team meeting. “This can’t be good,” she thought. The chair of the meeting said “there is a billion dollar mistake in this computer run. Can you explain this?” Her quick reply was “well, at least it’s good that you’re able to find a billion dollar mistake,” which was met with laughter. As an aside, she was probably thinking of her favorite saying “Fake it till you make it.”
We greatly appreciate the care, empathy and consideration provided by the caregivers, nurses and staff during her residence at New Dawn Memory Care.
A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Shrine of Remembrance Chapel on January 29, 2021 with Chaplain Nathan Warn as the officiant.
If you wish, a donation in remembrance of Ursula may be made to the Dementia Society of America by mail to P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or online at www.DementiaSociety.org/donate.
Penne and Hugh Funk
22 Jan 2021Corry, we are so very sorry for the loss of your mother. We know how much you absolutely adored and admired your mother. You always spoke so fondly and affectionately of her and we’ve loved listening to all the fascinating and unique stories you’ve shared through the years. It’s obvious to us what a wonderful example she was raising children and her legacy will carry on through you, your children and grandchildren. We love you dearly and offer our most sincere condolences to your father and entire family.
Bettie Bowren
22 Jan 2021Uschi and I became dear friends at Ford Aerospace in 1980. We both worked in the Computer Area. We laughed at work together and shared secrets with each other from time to time about other employees. Outside of work we were very close friends and did many things together, as well as with our families. Uschi was trustworthy with people she cared about, and she was a very generous and caring individual. Many times we were up to mischief, and it was always an adventure! Uschi was, and I’m sure still is, a free spirit. She told me that she was a little gypsy girl growing up in Germany because she could quickly travel by foot from one village to another. People were always surprised to see her turn up in the villages, like magic! I’m going to miss her not being on earth; however, it won’t be that long before Uschi and I will be spending time together again. Time really does fly these days! Corry, the write-up for your mom is absolutely beautifully written. God bless you, Lou, and all of your family and loved ones. You are a special family. I love you! ❤️
Michelle @ Mike Deal
23 Jan 2021I loved your mom! She was always such a hoot! You look like your mom and you most definitely got her adventuresome personality. It makes me happy to think of her now dancing and carrying on upstairs. I know she will always be with you and your family. What a fun adventuresome, lively life she had!
Bobby Guy
26 Jan 2021Mr. Gonzalas and Corry I was very sad to hear of Uschi’s passing. I started to remember the times I had visited all of you at your apartment in Augsburg and all the mornings she and I had walked to work together after I started working with her at the warehouse on Reese kasern. She will be sadly missed here on earth but she is now with little Luey and everyone that went before her. Keep your faith and let God, friends and your family help you through this. With love from Bobby and the rest of the Guy family.
Gloria Burnett
31 Jan 2021To Corry and family
We are so sorry to hear about your mother’s passing. She now is at peace and not hurting anymore. She will always be looking out for all her family seeing that all of her family will be happy and safe. Your mom was a very special woman to everyone she came in contact with. She and our mom are had a special bond together. Just smile and laugh with her in your heart when you remember all the crazy and loving things she did for everyone she knew and loved. Our family knows your loss is hard right now, We are going through our loss still too. Corry if you need anything we are here for you and your family when you need it. We will be there for each other in prayer too.
From the Avery family Gloria,Diana, Alan, Con.