Edward H. Rasmussen

Edward Holger Rasmussen, the son of Holger Thorvald and Mary Hansina (Hansen) Rasmussen, was born March 6, 1931, in Hampton, Iowa. Ed graduated from Latimer, Iowa, High School in 1949. He served his country in the United States Army. He attended Grandview College and received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University. He later went on to receive his master’s in science from the University of Iowa.

He was united in marriage with Norma Mae Gehling on Aug. 4, 1962, in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Norma preceded him in death. Ed worked as a science teacher for the Newton school system. During the summers he worked for Pioneer Seed Corn Company where he supervised hybrid corn inspection. On Feb. 14, 2001, Ed was united in marriage with Bonnie Lee (Henze) Mikutis. Ed loved his family and attended as many family functions as he could. He enjoyed agriculture, managing the family farm, traveling, socializing, dancing, encouraging others, polka music, politics and bocce ball. His sense of humor and quick wit made him approachable and easy to visit with. Ed was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus.

Ed died on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012, at his winter home in Mesa, Ariz. He was 81 years old. Ed was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Norma, on Feb. 16, 1999; and many aunts, uncles and in-laws.

Those left to honor Ed’s memory include his wife, Bonnie, of Newton; his daughters, Mary Lynn (Nabil) Fayoumi of Naperville, Ill., and Carla (Brian) Houck of Concord, New Hampshire; his step-son, Mark (Janet) Mikutis of Kellogg; his brother, David Rasmussen of Brookline, Mass.; his four grandchildren, Tarek, Nadia, Carsten and Wren; five step-grandchildren; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lillian Gehling of Grand Meadow, Minn., Rita Anstoeter of Carroll, Rose Ocken of Carroll, Sister Joann Gehling of Hiawatha, Linda Gehling of Carroll, Ed (Lorraine) Gehling of Carroll, Robert (JoAnn) Gehling of Carroll, Gerald (Kathy) Gehling of Phoenix, Ariz., Irma Henze of State Center, John (Pat) Henze of Albion, Judy (John) Greenfield of Jewel; an uncle, Gunnar Hansen of Hampton; an aunt, Irma Hansen of Hampton; a neice, Anne Rasmussen (Dan Millison); and many extended family.

A funeral mass was held Monday, Dec. 3, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Newton. Memorials may be designated to the Newton Senior High School science department and left at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home.