RASMUSSEN, Florence 1911-2006

RASMUSSEN, MUSSER, BERTCH

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 5/11/2015 at 22:31:40

Florence Ivadel Rasmussen, 94, of Reinbeck, Iowa, died Tuesday, March 28, 2006, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly, Iowa. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M., Monday, April 3, 2006, at the United Methodist Church in Reinbeck, Iowa, with Pastor Dave Nolte and Pastor Keith Tomlinson of Bartels officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, April 2, 2006, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., at French Hand Funeral Home in Reinbeck, with the family present to greet friends. Following cremation, a private family burial will occur at a later date at the Reinbeck City Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Church in Reinbeck and the Bartels Chaplaincy Program.

Florence was born in Reinbeck, Iowa on September 1, 1911, the only child of Walter and Matie (Bertch) Musser. She graduated from Reinbeck High School in 1928 and attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa from 1928-1930. She then taught country school in Lincoln, Iowa. In 1939 she met and married Lowell Rasmussen. They made their home in Reinbeck and began raising their family of four daughters until Lowell's employment as a salesman took them on moves to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Mitchellville, Iowa. After retirement they moved to Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas in 1973. Several years later they moved to Willow Springs, Missouri, and eventually returned to Reinbeck in 1983.

Her faith, family, and friends were very important to Florence. She held leadership roles at the United Methodist Church, taught Sunday school for many years, and attended Bible Studies. She was an active member of Women's Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Royal Neighbors, and Rebekah Lodge. Her greatest joy was her family. She enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking, games and puzzles. A highlight of her life was a trip to the Holy Land. She also enjoyed several trips to Bogota, Colombia to visit her daughter Paulette and family. She will be remembered for her sense of humor and gracious friendly spirit.

Florence is survived by step-son Daryl (Faith) Rasmussen of Williamsburg, Virginia; three daughters, Sue (Charles) Bjurlin of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mickey (Jerry) Styrsky of Chicago, Illinois, Beth (Doug) Stuart of Plainfield, Iowa; son-in-law Alvaro Rivas of San Diego, California; nine grandchildren, Debby (Mark) Kormann, Becky (Dan) Eitreim, Kerry Jones, Jerry David (Melissa) Styrsky, Krista (Tony) Smerz, David (Melinda) Stuart, Adam Stuart, Pablo Rivas, and Daniel Rivas; and ten great-grandchildren, Caleb and Eliza Kormann, Luke and Jake Eitreim, Tyler and Jace Styrsky, Alex and Abigail Smerz, and Lily and Charles Stuart.

She is preceded in death by her parents Walter and Matie Musser in 1964 and 1962; husband David "Lowell" Rasmussen in 1986, and her daughter Paulette Rasmussen Rivas in 1985.

--Abels Funeral Homes (www.abelsfuneralhomes.com)