Maynard L. Rasmussen, 76, was welcomed into God’s kingdom and reunited with his wife on Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at Prairie Lakes Hospital.
Funeral services were, Tuesday, May 30, at Holy Name Church in Watertown with Father Paul Rutten as celebrant.
Burial was at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Watertown.
Honorary pallbearers will be Maynard’s coffee buddies from the Wheel Inn and Stockman’s.
Active pallbearers will be Maynard’s grandsons: Brett Rasmussen, Jason Korbel, Tanner Chilson, Corbin Chilson, grandson through marriage, Matt Cadwell and good friend, Doug Neuendorf.
Maynard Leroy Rasmussen was born to Theodore and Anna (Krol) Rasmussen in Vermillion, South Dakota, on May 16, 1941. He attended Vermillion High School. Maynard married the love of his life, Judy Amundson on March 13, 1959. Together they raised one son and two daughters. Maynard was in the dairy business for 46 years.
He started off as a route man in Vermillion and delivering milk to families’ homes. In 1971, Maynard moved his family to Watertown when he was promoted to branch manager for Terrace Park. In two short years, he expanded the branch to Brookings, Aberdeen, and Marshall, Minn. He worked as a sales representative for various dairies including: Gillette, Land O Lakes, Lakeside, and Deans Foods. He retired from the business in 2009.
To know Maynard was to love him. Never will you meet a man who more faithfully lived his values. He was a soft-spoken, kind-hearted, endearing and wonderful man who had a gift in making everyone feel like family, and family was his passion. He found pure joy in being on the sidelines, in the stands, or in a theater seat supporting his children and grandchildren in their activities. He was a proud parent and grandparent, their #1 fan. Offering up a smile, he always had the time to engage in a conversation telling others how proud he was of his family. Through all his health issues, he never had a moment of self-pity. He always put on a brave face, smiled, and told everyone he was, “Doing good!”
Maynard is survived by his children, John (Laurie) Rasmussen, Volga, Ann Rasmussen, Watertown and Sherisse (Steve) Chilson, Watertown; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His brothers, Morris (Marian) Rasmussen, Sioux City, Iowa, and Leonard (Sharon) Rasmussen, Medford, Ore. His sisters, Colleen (Larry) Ricklefs, Box Elder, and Jan (Robert) Carter, Gregory.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Anna Rasmussen; his wife, Judy Rasmussen on Feb. 10, 2017; and his grandson, Nathan Allen Korbel.
In lieu of flowers, cherish your spouse, be there for your children and grandchildren, stay in touch with your siblings, and enjoy a cup of coffee with close friends - Maynard would have wanted that. If you’re already living by his example, a donation in his name to Prairie Lakes Hospice Care or the Arrow Education Foundation would be appropriate too.
