Ursula Johana Bahlow (formerly Duncan) nee Moter, eighty-six, of Springfield, Illinois, passed away on Friday, November 14, 2025, at her home in the presence of family. She was born on December 1, 1938, in Darmstadt, Germany to George & Katharina Moter. She was married twice, first to James L. Duncan (deceased, March 29, 1998) on August 27, 1962, in St. Charles, Missouri and second to Paul E. Bahlow on February 10, 2001, in Springfield, Illinois.
Surviving Ursula include her husband, two sons, James F. (Valerie) Duncan of Olathe, KS and Scott Duncan of Kansas City, MO; bonus children: son, Timothy (Melissa) Bahlow of Riverton, IL and daughter, Lisa (Matthew) Hughes of Chatham, IL; eight grandchildren, Zachary Duncan, Erica Duncan, Jakan (Taylor) Duncan, Jaisi Duncan, Dylan Hughes, Emily Hughes, Emma Bahlow, and Jack Bahlow; one brother, Friedrich (Erna) Moter of Weiterstadt, Germany; one nephew and one great-niece.
Ursula was preceded in death by her parents; first husband, James and one sister, Gisela (Wolfgang) Dorfmann of Munich, Germany.
Ursula retired from Franklin Life Insurance Company in 1995 as a senior underwriter, and was a dedicated member of Concordia Lutheran Church, Anchor Boat Club Ladies Auxiliary, St. Joseph’s Home of Springfield Coterie, and National Association of Letter Carriers Auxiliary.
Ursula endured harsh conditions brought about by World War II, including the loss of her father. She could recall being sent with her sister to stand in ration lines for flour and sugar and hiding in a cellar for days during bombings of her town. It was during this time she decided to come to the United States. That goal came true in 1956 when, through contacts via American soldiers, their parents, and the invitation from the United States government for young Germans to spend some time in the States. She travelled by freighter ship (Velma Lykes) to start a job in Houston, TX. Her original goal was to polish her English enough to return to her homeland and work at the US Embassy there as a translator; however, that changed a few years later when she traveled to Springfield, IL to visit a friend and decided to move there. While working at Lincoln Casualty Company she met the father of her children, Jim, with whom she was married for thirty-five years. Following his passing, she once again married her current husband, Paul, to whom she was married for twenty-four years.
Ursula was both a dedicated and loving wife, mother, and grandmother (“Me-Ma”), who loved her family, friends, boating, camping, gardening, sightseeing, traveling, and just being social.
Visitation: 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Monday, December 1, 2025 at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield.
Funeral Service: 10:00 AM, Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at Concordia Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Koschmann officiating. A 2nd visitation will be held from 9:00 AM until the start of the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Concordia Lutheran Church.
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