Leo T. Rasmussen

Leo Thielen Rasmussen of Leawood, KS passed away on Monday, June 22, 2015 surrounded by family. He was born August 11, 1933 in Exira, Iowa and was the fourth of twelve children. Leo grew up on the family farm in Audubon County, near the one-room schoolhouse that he attended. His Exira High School baseball team won the state baseball tournament in 1951 competing against schools much larger than their own.

Leo attended Iowa State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Husbandry from the College of Agriculture in 1955. While at Iowa State, he played baseball for the Cyclones and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. After graduation, he entered active duty in the Army as an Officer Second Lieutenant. He then served in the reserves for six years and retired as Captain. He accepted a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service and met Patricia Fitzgerald in New Hampton Iowa. They were married in 1958 in Lourdes, Iowa. After living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Richmond, Indiana, he and Pat and their four children were transferred to Leawood, Kansas in 1974 and have attended Cure’ of Ars Catholic Church since that time.

Leo joined MetLife in 1960 as a Field Representative for the Agriculture Loan Division and advanced through positions of increasing responsibility. He was promoted to the position of Vice-President and head of Agricultural Investments in 1986 and was named a Senior Vice-President in 1992. He retired in 1997 after a 36 year career with MetLife. After retirement, Leo and Pat enjoyed spending time with family and friends, attending many of their grandchildren’s activities, travelling and enjoying the winters in Tonto Verde, Arizona.

Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Clara and Chester Rasmussen, brother John Rasmussen and brother-in-law Keith Kafer. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia Rasmussen, son and daughter-in-law T.J. and Lynn Rasmussen, Olathe, KS; daughter Jane Rasmussen Schneider, Dallas, TX; son and daughter-in-law Mark and Maureen Rasmussen, daughter and son-in-law Sarah and David Hegarty, Leawood, KS and grandchildren Joe, Peter, Kirsten, and Tom Rasmussen, Sarah Jane and Will Schneider, and Megan and Daniel Hegarty. and his remaining 10 brothers and sisters and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Cure of Ars Catholic Church, 9401 Mission Road, Leawood, KS 66206, on Friday, June 26th at 9:00a.m. A visitation will be held at 8:00a.m.at the church in the Fr. Burak room prior to mass. Burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Lenexa, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Leo’s honor to Catholic Charities or Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

A special thanks to the caregivers at Catholic Community Hospice for all of their support during Leo’s illness. Also, thanks to Judith Raynor for all her help.