Ralph Rasmussen

Ralph Rasmussen passed away at the age of 89, on January 28, 2013, in his home at Heritage Club Mountain View, Denver, Colorado. Ralph was born in Cozad, Nebraska on April 8th, 1923. His parents, S. John and Martine (Thomsen) Rasmussen, raised their family of four on a farm north of Cozad where his sister still resides and hosts family gatherings every year, just as his mother did. Ralph attended school at Dist. 13 in the country, and graduated from Cozad High School in 1940. He assisted his father with farming before enlisting in the US Navy, serving in radio communications from 1944 until the end of the war. After serving his country, he returned to Cozad, and then moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where he was employed at the Texaco Bulk Plant. In 1950 he followed his future wife, Lucille Maack, also of Cozad, to California. They married on July 12, 1952 at the Westchester Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California. Their union was blessed with a daughter, Cindy Ann, in 1957. While in California, Ralph was employed at Boeing Aircraft. After living in California and Kansas a short time, they settled in Denver. He obtained a job with Martin Marietta, where they built missiles for the NASA Aerospace program. At that time he also began working for the Denver Post part-time on weekends. Soon after, he became a full-time supervisor of the street circulation department. He made many lifelong friends while working at the Post, and he would continue to meet with them after retirement for monthly breakfasts. Ralph took early retirement in 1986, bought an RV, and began to travel with Lucille. The couple took many trips through Colorado and the southwest, becoming “snow birds” as they say in Arizona. Yearly winter trips to Sun City, Arizona, allowed Ralph and Lu to enjoy visiting with their many friends and family that had retired there from Nebraska. They became full time residents of Sun City in 1997, where they enjoyed the many amenities that the community had to offer. They were active in the Nebraska club and the Willowbrook Methodist church. Ralph became an active board member of the Lions Club and was awarded for his dedication to humanitarian services and fundraising. He also enjoyed becoming part of a circulation department once again, this time for the Lions magazine; later he would enlist his daughter and grandson of 3, to help with deliveries! His family was his pride and joy and he spent endless hours making videos and photo journals of his life…he never left home without a camera! While in Arizona, he and Lu enjoyed many card parties, musical events, and dancing. There were trips to Sedona, Laughlin and also Arizona City to visit Lu’s brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Jesse Maack, who wintered there. They celebrated the union of their daughter Cindy, to Michael Staughton, in Vail Colorado, on May 1, 1997, with a mountaintop ceremony and an après-ski reception at Michael’s restaurant, Los Amigos. They were blessed with a grandson, Taylor Dayne, on November 25, 1997, and soon after made the decision to move back to Denver, to be closer to their family. They found another beautiful retirement community at Windsor Gardens, where they lived for 5 years, until 2011. That year they moved to the Heritage Club, which offered many additional amenities, including meals. Ralph always said “it’s like living in a “five star hotel”. They began meeting many new friends and enjoyed all the activities the community had to offer. Ralph was especially surprised and honored to be asked to go on the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight, to Washington D.C., in September of 2011. It was a fully paid 4 day trip for WWII vets, to visit the National Monuments. About 12 other residents from Heritage Club went along on the journey. They were treated like true “war heroes” everywhere they went! It was “the” trip of a lifetime for him! Ralph truly loved his country! Sadly, a year later, on May 14, 2012, Lu passed away after a long battle with cancer. Ralph and Lu would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in July. Ralph then moved to a smaller studio apartment just down the hall and continued to remain active. At the age of 89, he was employed once again, with a once a week, one hour shift at the Country Store in the complex. He loved all the musical events and looked forward to the weekly happy hours. He attended church services at Windsor Gardens and every other week at Heritage. He would attend weekly prayer meetings led by his new friend and “soul brother”, Tom. Ralph lived only 8 months after the passing of his wife. He was loved by all that knew him, and made a friend everywhere he went. His infectious smile and sense of humor would brighten everyone’s day. Ralph was preceded in death by his mother and father, his wife Lucille, sister Viola Brake and brother Edwin. He is survived by his sister; Betty Baker of Cozad Nebraska; daughter Cindy and her husband Michael Staughton of Vail, Colorado; grandson Taylor Staughton, of Vail, Colorado; brother-in-law, Lawrence Maack of Cozad, Nebraska, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A Military Graveside service will be held Feb. 9, 2013, 11:00 am, at the Cozad Cemetery in Nebraska, followed by a Memorial Tribute and Celebration of Life Reception at the Cozad Elks Club. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial offerings to Denver Hospice, VFW, Disabled Veterans or charity of your choice.