John Henry RASMUSSEN

RASMUSSEN, ERSLAND, MATTSON, PENN, HOLT, PENNECARD, PARKER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/24/2011 at 13:15:09

Lt. Col. (Ret) John Henry Rasmussen
March 17, 1933 - May 7, 2011

John Henry Rasmussen passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family May 7, 2011. The sixth of seven children born to Nels P Rasmussen and Clara Ersland of Goldfield Iowa March 17, 1933. John graduated from West Bend High School, West Bend Iowa in 1951, then entered the US Air Force through the cadets program Dec. 4, 1951. He pursued his passion for flying earning his Air Force Wings at the young age of 19. He met Miriam L Mattson of Rudyard Michigan while stationed at Kinross AFB near Sault Ste Marie Michigan. They were married June 8, 1957 and added 3 daughters while continuing their Air Force adventure. John was a Korean and Vietnam conflict veteran combat pilot awarded numerous decorations most notedly the "Distinguished Flying Cross" as an F-4 pilot in Southeast Asia. John retired as a Lt Col at Mt Home AFB Feb 28, 1973. John started his second career in 1977 as a Senior Program Analyst with Morrison Knudsen Corp in Boise Id, earning his Bachelor of Business Admin from Boise State University in May 1979. John retired from MK in 1993. In retirement he volunteered his computer expertise to the Ada County Sheriff's dept. managing volunteers work schedules for the Crime Stoppers Program. We will always remember John's passion for flying and watching him enjoy time with his 4 great grandchildren during his retirement. John is survived by his beloved wife Miriam, daughters Julie and her husband Dan Penn, Joni and her husband Mike Holt and Tracy and her husband Ed Pennecard, Grand daughter Stephanie and her husband Kris Parker, Grandson Victor John and his wife Stephanie Pennecard and 4 great grandsons Jayden, Chayse, and Gavynn Parker and Victor M Pennecard. Services at Summers Funeral Home, Ustick Chapel, will include a viewing on May 10th from 4pm until 7pm and chapel services on May 11th at 11:00am followed by his Military Honors burial at 1pm in the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the American Cancer Society.

Idaho Statesman - Boise, Idaho
May 10, 2011