Virginia (Gin) Louise Rasmussen, 86, of Sycamore and DeKalb passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at her home.

She was born April 4, 1934 in Chicago, the only child of George A. and Viola M. (Lauferski) Kolze. She and her parents lived in Chicago until the age of 14 when the family moved to Warrenville, IL, and she attended Wheaton Community High School. After graduating in 1952, she attended North Central College where she met Gordon Rasmussen and they were married in Warrenville on June 11, 1955. Gordon was drafted into the army in 1956, so Gin filled in his teaching position for two years before returning to college and receiving two bachelor degrees: a BME in Music Education and a BA in German in 1959.

Gin and Gordon moved to Denver, CO, the summer of 1959, and their daughter Freyja was born in 1960. A year and a half later, in 1961, the three of them moved to their home in DeKalb, where they would live for the next 40 years. They joined Bethlehem Lutheran Church and Gin became the choir director while Gordon played the organ. In 1962, their son Soren was born.

Virginia was a born story teller, and she used her talents to become the "Story Lady" at the DeKalb Public Library in the late 1960s and early 70s. Her stories about the Nisse, Danish elves who lived (and still live) in her attic, were published as a book when she was 86 years old: one of her proudest accomplishments.  Her stories were refined by many years of attending the Danebod Folk Camp in Tyler, MN.

Despite being a devoted stay-at-home mom and a wonderful homemaker, she always came up with inventive ways to make a bit of money. For several years she taught piano lessons to several students in the family living room; she worked briefly as a substitute teacher at the junior high; and she was a teacher's aide at the special education school in DeKalb for a couple of years. She and Gordon were members of the local Audubon Society where she was elected Vice-President for a couple of terms. In the early 70s she became a den mother for Soren's Cub Scout den, and she and Gordon remained involved in Scouting for many years and made many friends.

In 1974, they adopted their third child, Steve. At that point, she wasn't working, but decided she had some time on her hands, so she took classes at NIU in Latin, creative writing, and linguistics. Always a lover of classical music and singing, she joined the DeKalb Festival Chorus in the early 1980s and was a member for over 20 years. She also sang a few years with the women's singing group Bread and Roses. Gin was responsible for starting up the bell choir at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and greatly enjoyed directing them for more than 30 years. She also directed choirs at St. John's Lutheran Church for a couple of years and at St. Paul's Episcopal church for six years.

In addition to music, Virginia loved her many pets she had through the years (birds, dogs, cats) and to travel and learn new things. She and Gordon enjoyed several Elderhostel trips as well as taking two or three trips to Europe. Her greatest love (aside from her family), though, was to cook and bake and entertain, and she'd throw a party for just about any occasion. Their many friends and large extended family were always happy to gather at Gin and Gordon's to enjoy the homey atmosphere and delicious food.

Virginia is survived by Gordon Rasmussen, her husband of 65 years, her three children, Freyja Rasmussen-Johns (Rick Johns), Soren (Mary) Rasmussen, and Steve (Tammy) Rasmussen; six grandchildren Steven Rasmussen, Anthony (Emily) Rasmussen, Joshua Kerwin (Connie Kalsch), Brittany (Nick) Chatfield, Emily (Stephanie) Faulkner, Caroline Johns (John Livadaros), and six great-grandchildren plus one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Viola Kolze.

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

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