Laurie Rasmussen

Resided in Gladstone, MI
Died June 22, 2023

Laurie Kaye Landis Rasmussen passed into the arms of Jesus on June 22nd from a two and a half year battle with cancer.

She was born January 18th, 1954 in Manistique, MI to Bernard R. and Jessie J. (Weigant) Landis and spent the first twenty years of her life in Cooks, MI. She loved her small town life.
Laurie attended Cooks School grades K-7, and Big Bay de Noc grades 8-12, and excelled in academics. She graduated co-valedictorian in May 1972.

Following high school, she attended NMU for one year, decided to get married, and married the love of her life, Douglas Craig Rasmussen on May 25, 1974. Her mother and both of Doug’s parents were in the same graduating class of 1949, so it was no surprise that Doug and Laurie found each other.
In 1987, Doug and Laurie were blessed with their first child, Lance Douglas, and in 1991 their daughter Heidi Kaye. They were worth waiting for!

Doug and Laurie both got involved in Cub Scouts with Lance. Laurie eventually became Committee Chair and Doug, Cub Master. They participated in many scouting events. When Lance moved up to Boy Scouts, so did his parents, as Laurie became Merit Badge advisor for several Merit Badges.
When Heidi was 5, Laurie became Girl Scout Leader for her troop and continued from Kindergarten through Heidi’s Senior year.

Starting in 1998, Laurie and her family became involved in American Civil War living history and traveled throughout Wisconsin, Lower Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, recreating life during the 1860s. The highlights were the national events where there were thousands of other reenactors. This became a huge passion. She participated in reenacting until her health started to decline. This was a huge blow to her.
She participated in the U.P. State Fair exhibiting many items including baking, preserves, sewing, antiques, agriculture, crafts, and her favorite – floral, which earned many Grand Champions. Over many years, she earned over 200 ribbons.

Laurie was a member of NMU Concert Choir, Bay de Noc Choral Society, and had the honor of singing with a U.P. wide chorus in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, performing the choral finale of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

Laurie started skiing in 1972 with encouragement from Doug. She went on to love the sport and instructed at Gladstone Sports Park, Marquette Mountain, and Briar (Norway) Mountain.
Laurie was an attendant and member of Cooks Congregational Church where she was a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher and loved to sing, especially the old hymns!
She also served as pianist. She was proud of her eight years of perfect attendance in Sunday School.
Laurie was a member of Rapid River Congregational Church for over 35 years. She was a member and leader in 4H photography, textile printing, sewing, and crocheting. While in 4H, she participated in the March of Dimes telethon on TV6.

She had a job as a typesetter for the Pioneer Tribune in Manistique and was proud that she was able to type 100 words per minute with no errors. She next became a home demonstrator for Copper Craft.
She returned to college at Bay de Noc Community College to pursue a degree in education. She transferred to and graduated from NMU in December 1978 with a degree in Creative Arts/Elementary Education. She was eventually hired by Gladstone Schools as a long-term substitute in the Fall of 1979 and hired full-time in the Fall of 1980. She earned her Masters Degree in Elementary Education in 1983. She taught in Gladstone for over 36 years, teaching Kindergarten Readiness, Kindergarten, First, Second, Fourth, and Fifth Grades. Laurie loved her years at Gladstone teaching at Flat Rock (her favorite!), W.C. Cameron, and James T. Jones Schools. She organized Native American Awareness Day while teaching at Cameron, served on the Code Alert Team at Flat Rock and Cameron, and organized many American Civil War living history days while teaching Fifth Grade.

Laurie was awarded the VFW Social Studies Award for the State of Michigan in 2005.
Laurie retired from teaching in June 2015. She loved teaching, but it became more difficult to meet the physical demands of the position. She then spent a lot of quiet time at home being a housewife.
Her health gradually declined and she was diagnosed with cancer in January 2021. She fought bravely against the cancer, but eventually succumbed.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years Douglas Rasmussen of Gladstone, Son Lance (Sara Van Damme) of Bethel, Maine, Daughter Heidi (Andy) Bunch and granddaughter Eleanor of Marinette, Wisconsin, Brother Bryan (Sherry) Landis of Cooks, close friend Barb Landis of Manistique, Aunts Geraldine Bertrand and Jeanine Zellner of Manistique, Mother-in-Law Patricia (Seaman) Rasmussen of Garden, Sisters-in-Law and Brothers-in-law Lael (Charlie) Thelander of Garden, Roxanne (Russ) Paquette of Rapid River, Corine (Dennis) Cummings of Escanaba, Jon (Lise) Rasmussen of Chesterfield, Missouri, and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Allen, and Father-in-Law Charles Rasmussen.

Please make any memorial gifts to Salvation Army, Rapid River Congregational Church, or the American Cancer Society.

Thank you for all of the support from friends and family. Thanks to the Bellin cancer team, especially Dr. Mansurov and Susan Greenwood.

If we have left anyone out, please forgive us. It is not intentional.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 1 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Rapid River Congregational Church. Funeral services will be at 12:00 PM with Pastor Bill Rafuse officiating. Graveside services will follow in the Fernwood Cemetery in Gladstone. A luncheon will be served in the church fellowship hall.

The Rasmussen family is being assisted by the Skradski Funeral Home in Gladstone.

20 Tributes for “Laurie Rasmussen”

    I will always be grateful for Laurie’s wit, wisdom, and love! I could not have asked for a better teaching partner, mentor, and friend. She was an incredible role model to students and adults, alike and will surely always be remembered by those who had the privilege of having her as a teacher or colleague. She battled courageously through her illness, always more concerned about her family and their health instead of her own. My love and prayers to you, Doug, Heidi, & Lance! You were her world, her pride and joy!!! I will miss her terribly.

    Laurie will always have a special place in my heart! One of my most favorite teachers and a wonderful friend to our family. She will be missed immensely! ❤️

    Laurie was a wise, giving, dedicated teacher and dependable friend. She was the Real Deal! I was so entirely lucky and very grateful that she was my classroom neighbor at Jones Elementary. I would step into her room for confirmation on a new lesson, a piece of advice, a pep talk, or just a “funny’. Most people knew Laurie for her love of teaching social studies, but she was also excellent at knowing every English grammar rule known to man and my very own personal newspaper editor at literally a moments notice. She spoiled me and everyone and anyone who ever had a favor to ask at the end of a long, reflective work day.
    Laurie also beamed whenever she talked about Doug, Lance, or Heidi. She was definitely one proud Mama!
    Her presence in any room commanded respect because Laurie was a rare true leader who led ONLY by example! We will all miss her exemplary integrity. It was nice to know that when Laurie put her stamp of approval on any group project, you knew it was good to go without a second look. And whenever Laurie showed up for a you knew personally, in a group, or in her classroom, she was so wonderfully present in the moment, with intent and focus. A real treat. Nice to be apart of that kind of special environment as a child or adult.
    Sorry Laurie I gushed. You friend, would’ve edited all gushing out, because you were so fantastically practical too! You were so many things to so many people.
    Thank you Laurie for the lessons you left behind.
    May God rest your soul in eternal peace!

    Dear Doug, Lance, Heidi and family. Our hearts broke as we followed the ups and downs of Laurie’s health over the last several years. She was a dear lady and fellow teacher at the Jones School and will be dearly remembered by all. I remember well the love she had for you all her dear family & May the many memories you share be a comfort to you. Robin & Ed Custance

    My heartfelt condolences to Doug, Lance, Heidi and the extended family. Laurie was a force to be reckoned with, always giving her all to her teaching career and to her family. Both of my children were able to benefit from her masterful teaching, I was privileged to be her colleague and we will always be grateful for her support of Troop 473. This obituary is a well written tribute that gives insight into her many talents and contributions. May you all find peace and comfort in the sharing of memories with family and friends. God rest her soul.

    We are sincerely saddened by this news. Laurie was an amazing high energy educator, who really had a gift to get students involved in learning. My sons loved the the civil war reenactment days, what a great way to teach history !!! May god bless you all and see you though this difficult time.
    Tam, David, Garrett, John.

    Laurie you were such an inspiration to me and my family. I will miss your laugh and quick wittedness. I am saddened by the loss of you in body but your spirit will always be in our hearts. You are now singing with the Angels and I can see you smiling.

    Oh Laurie if I only knew our paths have crossed again here in Escanaba. To know that it was you I had met years ago at Medicare.
    Laurie, You were such a strong women. Your positivity strength, hope and humor inspired me.
    Prayers to your whole family. May they find comfort knowing you fought a good fight.

    Doug, Lance and Heidi, my sincere and heartfelt condolences for your loss! I have so many memories of Laurie as she taught most of my kids. She was such a devoted teacher and had such passion for everything she did! Sing with the angels Laurie!

    Can anybody say “ROCK STAR”? A wonderful person, educator and community member. What an inspiration to to all of us in so many ways.

    I remember Laurie fondly after meeting and getting to know her while she and Doug were here visiting Lance years ago. While she first came across as a stern presence, she soon revealed her wonderful sense of humor and I greatly enjoyed conversing with her. She and Doug raised a couple of great kids! Sending my condolences to Doug, Lance and Heidi, and all their friends and family, from Maine, with love, to Michigan.

    Laurie has been a part of our life since 1998. Susan (my late wife) and my son Jeremy spent endless nights with our Civil War tents side by side. Doug and Laurie would save a blank place by their wall tent for us since we drove from the Milwaukee area to distant events. We would come in usually just as it was getting dark.

    Both Laurie and Susan cooked up a storm for every event (and talked a lot between each other), and many a re-enactor would drift by looking for a snack. One year at the Escanaba re-enactment, they had to deal with one participant who drank Dave’s Insanity Sauce – that they used a little of for cooking – because he thought it was a little different from Tabasco.

    We will definitely miss Laurie, but at least we were able to talk to her recently.

    Doug, Lance, Heidi and all of the family, I am so sorry for your loss! Laurie was one of a kind special! Teachers with her dedication are one in a million.

    Even though I was , supposedly the “senior teacher” when we rode and taught together out at Flat Rock, I learned so much about enriching my teaching from her. She was so brilliant and devoted to her profession. I will always be grateful for her teaching me how to use the wonderful YOUNG AUTHORS program which was a unique Language Arts technique. I love you, Laurie, and I will always miss you! Rest in peace, my dear friend!

    She was a smiling face and warm woman who laughed and joked with my late wife, Carol and I. This was at the civil war events we attended. I always looked forward to seeing them both. Always a place at their table even for a confederate soldier like me.

    We are so deeply sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful woman, teacher, wife, and mother. May she rest now in peace with no pain or suffering. If there is anything you need doug please let us know
    Love,
    Bill, laura, Jon, and Jessica Young

    I worked with Laurie at Jones Elementary and admired her as a dedicated teacher, inside and outside of the classroom. She had such a joy of life and made sure each of her students were seen and included. Teaching was her gift and she used it well. Laurie took every opportunity to be involved and do her best. She excelled because of who she was; a wonderful, gifted and talented human being.

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