died in his home on Saturday (Nov. 30, 2013).
Keith was born to Karl and Mildred (Brown) Rasmussen III, on March 5, 1944 in Fremont. He was a graduate of Fremont Senior High School, and a life long resident of Fremont. Keith served in the United States Army Reserves, and attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska.
Nearly all of his working career was with his parents and his brother in Karl's Jewelry in downtown Fremont. During these years, he attended many of the jewelers conventions where further training and workshops were held. Following the closing of Karl's Jewelry, Keith opened 'Karl's on Main' on the downtown Main Street in Fremont. Keith had also been a dance instructor with the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Along with other interests, Keith enjoyed fishing.
Keith and Betty were married on January 14, 1977.
Survivors: wife Betty
3 sons Derek Rasmussen of Cedar Bluffs and special friend Lauren Willis
Tim Peterson of Fremont and special friend Tracy Moore
Chad (wife Tammy) Peterson of Fremont
3 grandsons Alan and Austin Peterson
Justin (and wife Ashley) Bittinger
1 granddaughter Taylor Peterson
4 great grandchildren
brother Karl (and wife Annette) Rasmussen IV of Fremont
Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Mildred.
The funeral service will be 2 PM Wednesday (December 4th) at the Ludvigsen Mortuary Chapel, Fremont. Visitation will be on Tuesday (Dec. 3rd) from 2 to 8 PM, with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 PM.
Memorials will be directed by the family.
online guestbook @ www.ludvigsenmortuary.com
Condolences(12)
Kathy Spicer
Ames, NE Wednesday, December 18, 2013 So sorry to hear of Keith's passing. Will miss Keith's presence around Downtown Fremont.Eileen Thornburg
Fremont, NE Wednesday, December 4, 2013 Rasmussen Family,I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Keith. I so enjoyed shopping at Karl's, and then visiting with Keith when he opened Karl's on Main; he could repair anything and always took the time for any jewelry item.
Thoughts & prayers,
Eileen Thornburg
Mas Inuma
Tokyo, Japan, NE Wednesday, December 4, 2013 It was 34 years ago when I was an AFS exchange student at FHS, hosted by Swanson family who owned Fremont Printing. Because my host family went to the same church with Rasmussen family, Keith's dad, Karl kindly provided mea part time job at his Jewelry shop as cleaner. I always enjoyed talking to Keith because he was just like my older brother, he taught me many things about life. He was always kind, cool, and discreet person. Keith, I still remember the great conversation at that time and so sad to hear the news.
Please have a peaceful rest and I respect you always.
p. s. Thank you so much for lent me a tuxedo on my prom!
Connie
Omaha, NE Tuesday, December 3, 2013 Before moving to Omaha, I was a regular customer of Karl's Jewelry. Keith was always so kind and very pleasant.I'm very sad to hear of his passing. My deepest sympathies to his family.
Al Hildenbrand
Minneapolis, MN Tuesday, December 3, 2013 Keith is four years older than me, and my first cousin. His Mom and my Mom are sisters, and my Dad worked as a watchmaker at Karl's. We grew up going to the same Church. Keith was, from the beginning, a Maker. He gathered skills with tools and materials all his life, skills used in the service of the next goal of something he desired to, or needed to make. When we were young, when we played together with the things he had made, I was constantly inspired (being a kindred though younger maker) by what he had done with simple found objects. One of my earliest memories of this was when Keith helped me climb up one of the tall, wood, free-standing shelves in the back room of the old Karl's before the first hand dug basement went in. Keith had a small private play space on top of the shelving just under the high ceiling. He had made, from two cardboard boxes, a telephone operators old switchboard with cords and plugs made with string and nails, where the string had weights that retracted the excess string into the lower box. The operator mouthpiece and earpiece were paper cups from down by the back sink. It was wondrous and gave me inspiration for things to make.What I didn't get inspiration from, was from skills that he had acquired that, to my younger less skilled perspective, were almost akin to magic, a source of wonder that fueled my imagination. Without the fortune of having Keith as my close first cousin, I would not be the maker I am today.
Keith also sang in select choirs as a bass. He was a member of the Fremont High School Chorale, and was part of the Spring Musicals the choral department and drama department presented. He sang in college choir as well.
I will miss you, Keith.
Steve and June Westphal
Fremont, NE Tuesday, December 3, 2013 We were very sorry to hear about Keith. He was always a pleasure to chat with at the jewelry store and on Main Street. He will be missed.Steve Leriger
Fremont, NE Tuesday, December 3, 2013 All my strength, love and faith to the Rasmussen Family during this heartbreaking time.We find our strength........in Keith's light.
God Bless.
Melissa Wild Wharff
Scribner, NE Monday, December 2, 2013 I am the daughter of Eugene Wild. I am very sorry for your loss. I remember going into the jewelry store with my dad when I was little and remember Keith. He was always so nice and it is so sad to hear that a good man was taken way too soon.Melissa
Marianne
Council Bluffs, IA Monday, December 2, 2013 So sad to hear the news. Uncle Keith u were the best and only! <3 ALWAYS there for me! <3Gone not forgotten
although we are apart
your spirit lives within me
forever in my heart. <3
Jason Bockelman
Omaha, NE Monday, December 2, 2013 Keith was my best friend's dad, and a great source of both humor and mechanical knowledge that I was lucky to be around growing up. I will miss him, but have all the fond memories eating Rasmussen dinners and putting our parents through their paces to look back on.Linda Lippincott
Youngtown, AZ Monday, December 2, 2013 I am so sorry to hear about Keith- as far back as I can remember my entire family shopped at Karl's and Keith was always so kind to me- you are in my thoughts and prayers- Linda LippincottLeRoy & Janis Poppe
Scribner, NE Sunday, December 1, 2013 We are so sorry to hear of the loss of Keith. We were faithful customers of the Karl Jewelry. Lee bought my engagement ring and our wedding rings there 58 years ago. We also were in the Main St Store many times. Keith repaired a mantel clock for us that had been in the family for over 100 years. We too will miss him as we missed his parents. May your memories bring you smiles and God give you peace. Our sympathy to you all.