Irwin Dean RASMUS

RASMUS, SCHMIDT, HANSON, SCHROEDER, GREIMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/25/2015 at 17:53:11

February 28, 1919 --- September 14, 2001

Irwin Dean Rasmus, 82, of Garner died Friday (Sept. 14, 2001) at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City. His funeral will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday at Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner with the Rev. Darrell Weber officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Cataldo Funeral Home, Garner, and one hour prior to services at the church Tuesday.

Irwin Dean Rasmus, the son of Irwin V. and Thyra (Hanson) Rasmus, was born February 28, 1919, on a farm north of Garner. He attended the rural schools and graduated from Garner High School in 1938. After graduating, he attended Drake University in Des Moines on a track scholarship. Dean enlisted in the Army during World War II starting with the 34th Infantry Division and then the 34th Artillery Division. He was with Company "B" 168thInfantry, 34th Division, and was with one of the first groups to sail to Europe in January of 1942. He was then trained in Ireland and Scotland with the British 6th Commando and was in the invasion of North Africa as a British commando. He returned to the 34th Division in June of 1943 and in April of 1943 went with the 34th Ordinance where he remained until the end of the war. Following his discharge in August of 1945, he returned to Garner. On December 5, 1945, he married Arlene Schmidt at the Reformed Church in Klemme. They lived on a farm north of Garner for a year before moving to a farm west of Klemme. In 1960, they moved into Garner.

Dean worked for Hallett Construction, Earl Stille the Hancock County Maintenance Department and IMT in Garner from which he retired in 1982. He enjoyed his family, woodworking, reading and target shooting. Dean was especially proud of being the one-mile run state champion in 1938 and for holding the Garner track record in the event for 31 years. He was a member of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church, the Garner VFW Edwin Jante Post 5515 and the American Legion Gifford Olson Post 256.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene of Garner; three children, Judy Schroeder and her husband, Dick, of Flint, Mich., Ken Rasmus of Garner and Glenn Rasmus and his wife, Mary, of Klemme; six grandchildren, John and Kate Schroeder, Shad Rasmus, Angie Greiman and her husband, Matt, and their daughter, Grace, Ryan Rasmus and Marcus Rasmus; two brothers, Warren Rasmus and his wife, Helen, of Garner and Wayne Rasmus and his wife, Laurine, of Garner. He was preceded in death by his parents. Cataldo Funeral Home.

September 17, 2001
Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa