Rasmussen, Alfred Eugene (Gene) (1943-2016)

RASMUSSEN, BECKER, POULOS, HAMILTON, CHICOINE, LACOTTA, ZILLER

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 3/21/2016 at 16:08:17

Alfred Eugene (Gene) Rasmussen, Jr.
June 5, 1943 - March 5, 2016

Alfred Eugene "Gene" Rasmussen, Jr., age 72, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died on Saturday, March 5, 2016, at the Methodist Manor Retirement Community in Storm Lake.

Gene Rasmussen, Jr., a son of Alfred Eugene, Sr., and Josephine (Becker) Rasmussen, was born in Carmel, California, on June 5, 1943. As an infant, Gene moved to Cherokee, Iowa, while his father was serving his country in the United States Army.

After his father’s discharge, the family moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where Gene lived his youth and received his education. A 1961 graduate of Sioux City Bishop Heelan High School, he had already in 1960 earned the highest honor in the Boy Scouts have to offer, that of Eagle Scout.

Gene, then, attended the University of Iowa for a period of time before he began an adventure backpacking throughout Europe. After returning to the United States in 1964, he attended Omaha University and also sold Buicks for his uncle in Council Bluffs.

Gene met Pamela Poulos, the love of his life, in 1967. On May 25, 1968, they married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Council Bluffs. Subsequently, their union was blessed with two children, Gena and Christian. After their wedding, Gene and Pam lived in Council Bluffs where he was employed with Rasmussen Buick. In November of 1969, the Rasmussens purchased the Ford dealership in Storm Lake. They, subsequently, expanded their business to Cherokee in 1981. Automobiles had become the focal point of Gene’s life.

Gene was committed to his vocation and his community. He served for many years on the Ford Dealer Advertising Fund (FDAF). After serving as Storm Lake Rotary Club president, he transferred his membership to the Cherokee Rotary Club. Moreover, he served two terms as co-chair of the Buena Vista University Community Campaign, belonged to the Storm Lake Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeside City Council, the Storm Lake Organization of Boat Sailors (the S.L.O.B.S.), and was the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association (IADA) County Director from 1976 to 1998. Gene will be remembered for his love of sailing, reading, music, painting, and gardening.

His life is honored and cherished by his family which includes his wife, Pam, of Storm Lake, Iowa; his children,: Gena Hamilton, of Cherokee, Iowa, Christian and Michelle Rasmussen, of Storm Lake, Iowa; his beloved grandchildren: Austin and Dylan Hamilton, and Elias, Gabriel, and Riley Rasmussen; his brothers: Marc (Sheri) Rasmussen, of San Diego, California, Neil (Vicki) Rasmussen, of Ruston, Louisiana, Philip (Diane) Rasmussen, of Omaha, Nebraska, Tony Rasmussen, of Grand Island, Nebraska, Martin (Christy) Rasmussen, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Keith (Ruby) Rasmussen, of Tucson, Arizona; his sisters: Paula (John) Chicoine, of Parker, South Dakota, Deanna (Bernie) Lacotta, of Phoenix, Arizona, and Lorna (Ron) Ziller, of Tracy, California; and his sister-in-law, Janice Rasmussen, of Tucson, Arizona; as well as many nieces, nephews, other extended family members, and many friends locally and throughout the country.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Victor and Perry; his niece, Melissa Rasmussen, and his nephew, Deric Rasmussen.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 14, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at the Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta, Iowa. Burial will follow in the Grant Township Cemetery in rural Rodney, Iowa. Visitation will take place on Sunday, March 13, 2016, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the church. In honoring Gene’s legacy, donations may be made in his name to the June E. Nylen Cancer Center, 230 Nebraska St., Sioux City, Iowa 51101 ~or to the GoServ Global - Haitian Ministry, 310 E. Broadway, Eagle Grove, Iowa 50533. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Blessed be the life and memory of Alfred Eugene “Gene” Rasmussen, Jr.

Copyright © 2016, Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Homes

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