Gordon Edwin Rasmussen, 88, passed away March 19, 2021, at home in DeKalb, Illinois. Gordon was born on December 13, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan, to Anton and Hermine (Pavlik) Rasmussen. He graduated from Mackenzie High School in Detroit in 1950. He attended North Central College in Naperville, Illinois, and graduated with a B.A. in English in 1954. While at college, he met Virginia Kolze, whom he married in 1955. He was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1956 and served two years at the 5 ^th Army Headquarters in Chicago.  Upon discharge, he taught grade school for a couple of years, then moved to Denver, CO, in 1959, where he earned a M.A. in librarianship from the University of Denver.  After graduation, he was hired as a circulation librarian at Northern Illinois University, where he worked from 1961 until his retirement in 1992.

Gordon and Virginia joined Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church soon after arriving in DeKalb and remained active members for the rest of their lives. Over the years Gordon served on the Altar Guild, the Worship and Music Committee, and the Church Council, and taught Sunday school. Less formally, he devoted much time to helping in the garden, the kitchen, or wherever he was needed. Having learned to play the organ as a child in Detroit, he served as the organist at Bethlehem for many years, and substituted as organist for the First Lutheran Church in Kirkland, IL.

In the 1970s and 80s he was active in the YMCA Indian Guides, and in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He received a Silver Beaver Award for his dedicated service to Scouting.

Gordon and Virginia shared a passion for music. For many years they held season tickets to symphonies, operas, concerts and plays in Chicago, Rockford, Elgin and DeKalb. Traveling to Ohio and Pennsylvania with friends to attend light opera and Gilbert & Sullivan performances was another favorite activity.

Gordon and Gin loved to travel, attending Elderhostels and taking group bus trips to interesting places around the country. They were able to visit Europe together, and Gordon traveled with friends to Mexico and to the Czech Republic. Gordon was proud of his Danish heritage, and each June, he and Gin would pack up the car, and in later years, their grandchildren, to travel to Tyler, MN, where they spent a week at Danebod Danish folk school camp. Folk dancing, singing, crafts and serious discussions with their many friends made this a highlight of their year.

Gordon had a room-filling personality. He was extremely gregarious and made friends quickly wherever he went. He loved to socialize with his family – siblings, nieces and nephews, kids and grandkids – and he always loved attending family gatherings and school reunions. Talking with people was one of his favorite activities, and in his final months when he could no longer get out to visit in person, he could usually be found chatting on the telephone with friends and family members.

He is survived by his children Freyja Rasmussen-Johns (Rick Johns), Soren (Mary) Rasmussen, and Steve (Tammy) Rasmussen; grandchildren Steven Rasmussen, Tony (Emily) Rasmussen, Joshua Kerwin (Connie Kalsch), Brittany (Nick) Chatfield, Emily (Stephanie) Faulkner, Caroline Johns (John Livadaros); six great-grandchildren plus one on the way; sister-in-law Barbara Kraviec; brother-in-law Lawrence Perry; and several beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Virginia, on February 6, 2021, as well as his parents Anton and Hermine Rasmussen, his brother Walter Rasmussen, and his sister Julie Perry.

Due to COVID restrictions, the funeral service will be a private event. A celebration of life gathering will be held at a future date.

Gordon's private Memorial Service will be live streamed for all his friends to participate on Saturday, March 27th at 11:00 AM and can view on:

Memorials may be made to Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church in DeKalb, IL or to the Danebod Folk School in Tyler, MN, in care of the Butala Funeral Home and Crematory, 1405 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178.

To sign the online guest book or share a special memory, go to www.butalafuneralhomes.com