Memorial
On Thursday, November 6, 2014, Russell William Rasmus, 88, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Manchester, peacefully passed away at home, surrounded by friends and family and entered his eternal life in heaven after a short battle with cancer . Services will be held at Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be Friday November 14th from 4-8 pm. Funeral services will be Saturday November 15th at 3pm with visitation preceding services from 1-3pm. Family requests memorials in lieu of flowers.
Russ was born on March 21, 1926 in Garner, Iowa to Nels Marius and Olena (White) Rasmus. After graduating from Garner High School in 1944, Russ entered the Navy and served in WWll on the USS Meriweather in the Combat Information Center (Radar room). Following the war he remained in the reserves and returned to active duty during the Korean War, serving on the USS Picking. Russ received his Bachelors degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, his Masters Degree from the University of Northern Iowa and completed post masters work at the University of Minnesota, Central College in Pella and Kansas State University. Russ enjoyed many years of teaching High School Math, Chemistry and Physics, first in Victor and then in Manchester. Upon his retirement he continued working as a substitute teacher until he turned 80 years old and moved to Cedar Rapids to be near family. While teaching in Victor, Russ met the love of his life, Lois Hayes. They were married August 7th, 1954 and celebrated 60 years in 2014. Russ was an accomplished wood worker. He also enjoyed British sitcoms, his family, daily coffee with friends at Hardee’s while living in Manchester and at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids and he was quite an audiophile. He was a member of the American Legion, the Knights of Pythias Lodge in which he holds the office of Past Grand Chancellor of Iowa, a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and was a man who had great faith in God. In September Russ was included on an Honor Flight. He was very touched by the messages he received on the flight and by all the handshakes when they arrived at the airports.
Russ was preceded in death by his parents, brother J. Wendel Rasmus and wife Violet, nephew John Rasmus, sister in laws Winnie Rasmus and Janice Dauenbaugh and brothers in law Curtis Hayes, Melvin (Pete) Ebersole and Richard Dauenbaugh.
He is survived by his wife Lois Rasmus, his daughter and son in law Douglas Sr. and Judy Drees and their children Ben (fiancée Hilary Reinert), Alex (girlfriend Jessi Schoettmer), Jessica (boyfriend Alex Holtz) and Jill, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews and their families, and friends. He is also survived by family pets, Chunky and Ella, who were very special to him.
Thank you to all who helped in any way during Russ’s illness including Hospice of Mercy, Dr. Ghosh and staff at the Ghosh Center, Care Pro Home Medical staff, Dr. Saxena and staff, Honor Flights, Dalton Boyle, Tony Snyder, Jessi Schoettmer, Alex Holtz, the Holtz family, Russ’s Lindale Mall Coffee Friends, Cedar Memorial staff and Meals on Wheels.