Rev. Robert Rasmussen

Died on January 25, 2018 at home. He was born on August 12, 1927 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Ivan and Esther (Larsen) Rasmussen. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1945, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1950, & McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, in 1953, & was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in 1953 by the Presbytery of Western Michigan. He served the following churches: Clement Presbyterian, Cicero, Illinois; Colcord & Clear Creek Presbyterian in West Virginia; & the North Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo; and was associate pastor of St Michael & All Angels Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Blantyre, Malawi. After retiring in 1992, he did 2 interim pastorates in Benton Harbor & was the initiating pastor of Pine Island Presbyterian in Texas Township, & returned several times to Malawi to teach at theological colleges there. During his pastorate at North Presbyterian he was instrumental in the starting of Ministry with Community. He received the Isaac Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017 & the NAACP Humanitarian Award in 1985. He was pre-deceased by his parents & his sister Barbara Engelhardt (Melvin). He is survived by his wife of 63 years, the former Edith Brunson, by 4 children, Grace Cook (Mark) of Schoolcraft, John Rasmussen of Jackson, James Rasmussen ( Florence Chen) of Toronto, & Mary Hall (Brent) of Ann Arbor; 7 grandchildren, Helen Weaver ( Brady), Robert Bradford (Sharon), John Bradford (Josalyn Kiplinger), Helen Salisbury, Mary Rebecca Miedema (Jeff), Natalie Salisbury, & Matthew Rasmussen; & 5 great grandchildren, RJ & Dylan Davis, Taye & Jadyn Bradford, & Harper Grace Bradford. Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Kalamazoo on Saturday, Feb 3rd at 11 am with lunch & time to meet with family to follow. Memorials may be directed to Presbyterian World Mission, Malawi, Africa, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202 or www.presbyterianmission.org. Please visit Robert's personalized webpage to leave a condolence to his family at www.langelands.com.