Joyce Elaine Rasmussen

Mrs. Joyce Marion Rasmussen, 98, died Sunday, May 21, at UNC Health Blue Ridge after leading an exemplary life. Joyce was born October 7, 1924 in Detroit Michigan, the daughter of George and Sylvia Marion. A fast learner, she skipped several grades, graduated from high school at 16, and began work as a secretary and bookkeeper. She met Glen Rasmussen at a Lutheran Church youth group, and married him in 1943, shortly after he enlisted in the Army. When the war ended, Joyce supported her husband while he earned his Masters Degree in Music from Wayne State University and his PhD in Educational Psychology from the University of Michigan. While raising five children, she also ably and graciously filled her role as the wife of an academician. They concluded their careers in 1983 as President and First Lady of Findlay University in Findlay, Ohio. Glen and Joyce moved to Buies Creek, NC, where they enjoyed golf, church, and visits from family. Joyce was an active member of the garden club and helped establish and maintain a bluebird trail on the Keith Hills golf course. In 2013, eight years after Glen’s death, Joyce moved to Grace Ridge in Morganton.

Everything Joyce decided to do she did exceptionally well. She took a photography class and spent many happy hours in a dark room. She distinguished herself in a pottery class and was commissioned to make a set of dinner plates. She took up golf in mid-life, yet three times had a hole-in-one, twice became club champion, and served as a course rater for the United States Golf Association. While in her 80s, she prepared income tax returns for seniors as a volunteer. Joyce was well known for the hand-crafted greeting cards that she thoughtfully made family and friends for birthdays and anniversaries. In the last eighty years, she never turned down an invitation to play cards.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Glen Rasmussen, and her son, Steven Rasmussen. Surviving are her daughter Carol Wirkus and husband Frank (Sedona, Arizona), son Paul and wife Betsy (Morganton), son Neil and wife Barbara (Grand Marais, Minnesota), son David (Morganton), and daughter-in-law Linda (Snowflake, Arizona). Also surviving are grandchildren Craig, Scott, Erik, Daniel, Justin, Kara, Samantha, Debbi, and Elizabeth; great-grandchildren Mathew, Emily, Michael, Trevor, Kyle, Blake, Nora, and Ian; and great-great grandchildren Gracelynn and Julian.

The family wishes to thank the residents and staff at Grace Ridge for helping to make Joyce’s final years comfortable and enjoyable. A memorial service will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm on July 9, 2023 in Grace Ridge’s Table Rock Lounge.

Kirksey Funeral Home of Morganton has the honor of serving the family. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kirkseyfh.com for the Rasmussen family.