Ursula Meta (Huntemann) Clark, 92, died April 24, 2023, at St Joseph Hillside Villa in West Point.  Funeral service will be 11:00am on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at Grace Lutheran Church in West Point with Rev. Priscilla Hukki officiating.  Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery with lunch following at the church hall.  Visitation will be Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am at Grace Lutheran Church.  Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church.  Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

Ursula was born on March 5, 1931, in Wakefield, Nebraska, the first of 7 children born to Herman and Elisbeth (Holscher) Huntemann. The Wakefield residence was her parents first home following their immigration to the United States from Germany.

Ursula graduated, along with her sister Olga, from West Point High School in 1949 and shortly after began teaching country school near Arlington, Nebraska. While at a local dance, she met her husband, Lee Clark whom she married on July 16, 1950. When Lee’s father passed away and the family business ended, they relocated to Illinois.

They made their home and raised daughters, Elizabeth and Sharon in Sandwich, Illinois. Ursula was a devoted member of Salem Lutheran Church and employed in the office of the James C Knight Co. Respite from hours at the office was spent growing beautiful flowers in the yard of her home. When Lee retired from Caterpillar, they returned to West Point and operated the Our Own Hardware Store on Main Street. Returning to West Point provided Ursula the chance to help her aging father and reunite with her sisters. She also became an active member of her family church, Grace Lutheran in West Point.

Their West Point home backed to the cemetery where her parents were laid to rest. She found peace walking up the hill from her backyard to visit regularly. The backyard provided Ursula a sanctuary where she could once again grow a garden of beautiful flowers and vegetables, which she canned and served throughout the winter months. The window over her kitchen gave her the opportunity to observe all different species of birds who came to enjoy her many bird feeders and heated birdbath in the winter. Making sure the birds were well taken care of was of utmost importance to her. She could name every bird who visited and for those she didn’t recognize she relied on a little book that sat forever on her kitchen table, just in case she needed to find the name of a new visitor. There was a special place in her heart for all creatures of nature, not just the birds.

Ursula and Lee loved traveling, whether a short trip to Mahoney State Park in the Fall or long-distance motorhome trips to Arizona and California. A couple trips to Germany were a dream come true for Ursula, where she was able to meet many of her German relatives, she had corresponded with over the years. In 2007, Ursula fulfilled a lifelong wish to visit New York City. Ursula and daughter Sharon spent several days touring the city with the help of her grandson Matthew as the special tour guide.

Ursula had a profound interest in the history of our nation. It was during the Bicentennial that Ursula began her vast collection of all things “1976”. She collected everything imaginable, and each piece was special to her and there was always a particular reason she decided to add it to her collection. Ursula and Lee also found enjoyment researching and experiencing the travels of Lewis and Clark.

When Ursula and Lee’s health prevented them from remaining in their own home, they moved to St. Joseph’s Retirement Community. Following Lee’s passing, she made her home at St Joseph Hillside Villa as one of the first residents of the Villa where she resided until her passing.

Ursula is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lee in 2018, sisters Olga, Elsbeth and Clara and brother Henry.

She is survived by her sister Dorothy (Everett) Minds and her sister Lily (Norman) Petersen. Daughter Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Wilson and husband Lynn of Lincoln. Daughter Sharon Renee Nielsen and husband Kenneth of Elkhorn. Grandchildren Matthew Nielsen and spouse Michelle, Julie Zamora, Erin Mattson, Megan Hunsen and spouse Julie, Angie Jaeger and spouse Kurt and Kerk and spouse Brittany. Great grandchildren Reagan Nielsen; Lila, Celia and Samuel Zamora; Shayla, Torri and Mae Hunsen; Lukas Jaeger; Emma Harris; Penelope, and Daphne Wilson along with several nieces, nephews, and their families.